YEKATERINBURG. Aug 24 (Interfax) - Personnel of the Russian Central Military District's mountain unit, stationed in Russia's internal republic of Tuva, have begun relocating to the site that will host the Rubezh 2021 maneuvers of military contingents from the Collective Security Treaty Organization's (CSTO) Collective Rapid Reaction Forces of the Central Asian region, the press service for the Central Military District said on Tuesday.
The maneuvers will be held at the training range of the Edelweiss training center in Kyrgyzstan in early September.
"Russian mountain motorized rifle troops are now completing their march being performed in a combined fashion. They covered more than 400 kilometers from Kyzyl to Abakan on Tigr and Ural armored vehicles and then transferred onto flatbed rail cars at the Abakan railway station. In all, the troops will have to cover some 3,000 kilometers," the press service said.
During the exercise, Russian servicemen will practice preparing for and conducting a joint military operation to encircle and eliminate mock illegal armed formations invading the territory of a CSTO member state, the press service said.
"Up to 300 servicemen and more than 60 pieces of hardware will represent the Russian contingent," it said.
Central Military District Commander Alexander Lapin said earlier that nine joint international military exercises would be held in Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan over the summer period. The highlight of this joint combat training program will be the Peace Mission 2021 counterterrorism exercise.
Russia held two military exercises near the Afghan border in August: one jointly with Uzbekistan and another together with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.