Massive Rocket Artillery Drills Begin in Crimea, Abkhazia, South Ossetia

Russian army artillery personnel in the Southern Military District began scheduled drills using new Hosta and Tornado-G systems.

Over 8,000 Russian army artillery personnel began exercises in Crimea, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Armenia as well as other areas on Thursday, the Southern Military District's press service announced.

"The Southern Military District has begun field exercises for rocket forces and artillery. On 19 training grounds located in the Southern, North Caucasian and Crimean Federal Districts, as well as Russian military bases in Armenia, South Ossetia an Abkhazia, artillery belonging to motorized infantry brigades, formations and military bases of coastal troops will perfect their skills and their units' military coordination."

The artillery exercises will be conducted against both individual and group targets. Both the newest 2S34 Hosta self-propelled guns and 9K51M Tornado-G multiple rocket launcher systems will be used in the exercises.

In addition, commanders of rocket forces in the Central Military District began a five-day training course in Russia's Sverdlovsk region on Thursday. Commanders will be trained on the use of Iskander and Tochka systems, among others.

© RIA Novosti Irina Ilyichyova