MOSCOW. Sept 5 (Interfax-AVN) - The Caspian Flotilla attack groups of nearly ten warships, motorboats and support ships will practice training combat tasks to rebuff the ship groups of the simulated enemy at the Caucasus 2016 strategic command and staff drills, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"The naval sailors will perform tasks to protect and defend the internal water routes in the Caspian Sea offshore area, while staging a maritime blockade, cutting the pullback of the gangs by sea and the freeing of the ships captured by terrorists also during the command and staff exercises," the Southern Military district press service said in a statement seen by Interfax-AVN on Monday.
Besides, "the defense of navigation, oil and gas producing industry facilities and the elimination of illegal armed units" will be drilled, the press release said.
"The marine units will practice special operations to block and eliminate a simulated enemy during the Caucasus 2016 command and staff drills," it also said.
The Caspian Flotilla ship formations have already arrived in the designated areas. "Along with combat exercises, the crews will drill the acceptance of material supplies and the fuel and lubricants in-motion filling of the surface ships by the support vessels," it said.