GUDAUTA, Abkhazia, March 12 (AVN) - A Russian paratrooper battalion on a peacekeeping mission in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone will be replaced in late March, a spokesman for the 10th separate paratrooper regiment headquarters told the Military News Agency on Monday.
The battalion is accomplishing missions in the Gala district and the Kodori gorge as part of the Collective Peacekeeping Forces. The 10th regiment is establishing a replacement battalion in accordance with a special programme with the main stress laid on fire and tactical training. The new battalion includes 400 officers and enlisted men who will replace the separate paratrooper battalion led by Guard Lieutenant-Colonel Andrei Gunishev that has been serving in the zone for about a year.
As many as 22 Russian servicemen have been killed and over 70 wounded since June 1994 during accomplishment of missions in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone, the spokesman said.