MOSCOW. April 17 (Interfax) - Over 2,500 tank crewmen from combined-arms army bases in the Voronezh, Belgorod, Bryansk and Smolensk regions held live fire drills, the Western Military District stated on Wednesday.
"The control inspection of the army units is being carried out by the Armed Forces General Staff," the statement reads.
The troops have "successfully passed live fire tests," the district said.
The inspection involved testing the troop readiness for combat and mobilization, operational and combat skills, the day-to-day activities of the district's headquarters, Baltic Fleet forces, the combined-arms and tank armies and of the Leningrad Air Force and Air Defense Command, and of the motorized-infantry, artillery, tank and missile units and logistics brigades. The inspection took place in the Moscow, Leningrad, Kaliningrad, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod and Smolensk regions, the statement said.
At stage one the commission "inspected the carrying-out of live-fire drills characterized by a complex tactical environment in combination with firing missions involving the entire range of T-72B3 tank armament and smoke screens to conceal their movements. A complex target environment was created for the T-72B3 tank crews, in particular a 125-millimeter tank cannon's firing range was increased by 200 meters to 2,200 meters and the target display time was reduced," the statement said.
"The quality of combat training of the commands of military units and formations will be evaluated during their tactical and special exercises. Also, throughout this week control tests in driving fighting vehicles, tactical-special, physical and special skills will be held at the Western Military District combined-arms army's training grounds. In all, 100% personnel of the combined-arms army are involved in the final inspection for the winter training period."