Over 1,000 Russian Soldiers Partake in South Ossetia Field Firing Drills

About 1,000 Russian servicemen took part in the firing exercises in South Ossetia, the press service of Russia's Southern Military District announced on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Over 1,000 Russian servicemen took part in field firing exercises in South Ossetia, the press service of Russia's Southern Military District announced on Thursday.

"The divisions of the Russian military base in the Southern Military District, stationed in the republic of South Ossetia, conducted field firing at the Dzartsemi firing range," the press service said in a statement.

The drills involved T-72A tanks, BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers, 2S12 Sani mortar systems, AGS-17 and RPG-7 grenade launchers, and small arms, according to the ministry.

The drills brought together over 1,000 soldiers of mechanized infantry, tank, artillery and special units, as well as some 300 units of military equipment.

In August 2008, Georgia launched a military offensive against the breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, ending in a five-day war with Russia. Following the conflict, Moscow recognized the sovereignty of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

In early 2009, Russia set up its 4th Military Base in South Ossetia, with two main compounds — one on the northwestern outskirts of the capital of Tskhinvali and another in Java, or Dzau, the second largest urban settlement in South Ossetia. The base was deployed to protect South Ossetia as well as the southern border of Russia.