20 June 2004 12:19
Russian defence minister reports to Putin on start of Far East exercise
The final preparations are ending in eastern Russia for the Mobility 2004 command post exercises. More than 5,500
servicemen and equipment from all regions of the country have been lifted there. Minister of Defence Sergey Ivanov
reported the successful completion of this important phase of the exercises to the president. The defence minister
particularly noted the smooth operation of civilian and military traffic control services, noting that planes were
landing at airfields at intervals of five minutes. [Caption says "19 June 2004"]
[Ivanov, shown seated with Putin] The first phase of the Far Eastern exercises was completed yesterday. As I reported
to you, all the troops and forces of permanent-readiness units of ground forces, marines and yesterday airborne troops
from our Pskov 76th airborne division were airlifted to the Far East. In line with the task that you set, all the safety
regulations were strictly observed. Even though at certain stages of the exercise military transport planes were landing
at their allotted airfields at intervals of five minutes, the civilian and military traffic control services worked
smoothly and met all their strict deadlines. The last of the troops arrived today. And together with troops of the Far
East [military] district, the permanent-readiness units of which are also involved in the exercises, around 5,500
servicemen and over 600 units of military equipment are concentrated in the overall grouping.
[RTR Russia TV] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
