Military exercises in Armenia. Photo: Radio Azatutyun (RFE/RL)

25 July 2018, 13:51

Political analysts treat exercises of Russian soldiers in Armenia as routine ones

The large-scale exercises at the military base in Armenia are a planned event of the summer training schedule of the Russian Army, but not an indication of their preparation for an aggravation in the Karabakh conflict zone, experts believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the tactical exercises at the Russian military base in Armenia, held on July 23-28 at the "Kamkhud" and "Alagyaz" training ranges, involve over 3000 militaries and about 500 units of military, including tanks, artillery and aviation.

Pavel Felgengauer, a military observer for the "Novaya Gazeta" newspaper, has noted that the equipment used during the exercises has long been in the arsenal of the Russian Army, except for drones.

Alexander Perendjiev, a member of the Expert Council of Russian Veterans, agrees that the weapons used in the exercises are not new, but "efficient," and selected specifically for combating in the mountains.

The exercises involving 3000 soldiers are quite large-scaled, the expert said.

Mr Felgengauer is sure that the exercises in Armenia have to do with the proximity of NATO troops. The situation in the region is tense, and the exercises "can only add fuel to the fire," he said. However, in his opinion, the exercises will not lead to a conflict involving Russian troops.

Mr Perendjiev agrees that it is unlikely that the exercises will heat the situation in the region, as they are of defensive nature.

The conflict zone sees now dramatically less ceasefire violations, but any insignificant incident can turn into large-scale battles, the Ministry of Defence of Nagorno-Karabakh has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 25, 2018 at 10:18 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Oleg Krasnov Source: CK correspondent

All news
НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН И РАСПРОСТРАНЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ООО “МЕМО”, ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ООО “МЕМО”.

November 05, 2024 23:38

November 05, 2024 23:08

November 05, 2024 22:16

November 04, 2024 23:48

  • Songs of Rostov musicians anger pro-government activists

    After musicians from the “Kasta” band from Rostov-on-Don presented their new album, the “Veterans of Russia” public movement found a reason to request an investigation into the musicians’ activities for their alleged assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

November 04, 2024 23:47

  • Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of October 28-November 3, 2024

    Explosion in Cherkessk, drone attacks, Gadjiev’s case, parliamentary elections in Georgia, and official data on the natives of Southern Russia who perished in Ukraine, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of October 28-November 3, 2024, prepared by the “Caucasian Knot”.

News archive