MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax) - A tank battalion has been set up within the 7th Guards Airborne Assault Division of the Russian Airborne Forces stationed in Novorossiysk, the Russian Defense Ministry has said in a statement.
"Modern T-72B3 tanks have entered service with this unit," the statement said.
As of January, an independent tank battalion within the Airborne Forces' Novorossiysk division has been staffed with tank commanders and crews who have undergone training at training centers of the Defense Ministry, it said.
The new battalion has started its first firing practice exercise at the Rayevsky range near Novorossiysk, the statement said.
"The tankmen will practice movement in columns in a forested mountainous area, camouflaging methods and stealthy movement toward a tank training ground in singles and in units. The practical phase of the exercises at the training ground will be wrapped up with live firing practice using 125mm tank guns, 12.7mm NSVT machineguns, and 7.62mm PKTM machineguns at various ranges," it said.