MOSCOW. Sept 25 (Interfax-AVN) - Servicemen of the Moscow military district are practicing the blockade of illegal armed groups with aircraft support at a training range in the Nizhny Novgorod region in the course of the Bastion exercises.
"Motorized infantry and armor regiments are practicing a blockade of illegal armed groups at a training range in the Nizhny Novgorod region. They are due to cross a river on and under water," a source at the exercises headquarters told Interfax-AVN on Thursday.
Bombers, assault jets, helicopters and artillery are giving support to the forces, he said.
Paratroopers will land in the enemy rear. A helicopter of the Russian Interior Ministry and unmanned aircraft are giving guidance to the forces.
The training is part of the Stability 2008 strategic command exercises supervised by Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.
Over 8,5000 servicemen, about 200 tanks, up to 400 armored personnel carriers and combat vehicles, more than 200 guns, mortars, 44 planes and helicopters are engaged in the exercise.