MOSCOW. July 1 (Interfax-AVN) - Forces involved in the current Caucasus 2009 strategic military exercise in southern Russia have begun to train an operation to blockade areas where terrorists would be positioned, a North Caucasus Military District spokesman said on Wednesday.
"Reconnaissance and special units of the North Caucasus Military District are currently engaged in reconnaissance and search operations to locate bandit groups, their bases and their training centers. The findings are immediately reported to the command of the combined forces group that has been set up, where the planning of a counterterrorist operation is finishing," the spokesman, Lt. Col. Andrei Bobrun, told Interfax.
Bobrun also said there would be fire practice as part of the exercise at training grounds in four regions of the Southern Federal District. It would involve use of small arms, grenade launchers, mortars and guns installed on armored vehicles. There would also be exercises to train control of such vehicles.
"It is a distinguishing feature of this exercise that, if there emerges a real threat from bandit groups, the units that are involved in the exercise will be able to immediately start an operation to neutralize them," the spokesman said.
Caucasus 2009 started on June 29 and is due to finish on July 6.