MOSCOW. Feb 16 (Interfax) - A surprise combat preparedness check has begun in the Caspian flotilla. A marine infantry combat battalion of the Caspian flotilla, which is under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Vitaly Tregubov, was raised on alarm and began fulfilling its combat training tasks in the Astrakhan region last night, the press service for the Southern Military District has reported.
The combat preparedness check is conducted by a commission of the naval department of the headquarters of the Southern Military District. Some 600 troops and over forty units of combat and special equipment are used in the events.
The press service said the training began with an alarm call for the personnel, the preparation of the hardware for a march and the arrival by the battalion in the designated area for further transition to the training area. During the transition to the firing range, the marines conducted training to repel an attack by a hypothetical enemy.
The check will last three days. In the active phase, the marines will practice anti-landing defense tasks, which will involve combat firing using firearms and combat equipment, the press service for the Southern Military District has reported.