NOVOSIBIRSK. Aug. 23 (Interfax-AVN) - A training session of unit commanders, heads of services and branches of the Siberain military district is to be completed here on Friday, a spokesman for the 41st Army told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
The spokesman said that general supervision over the session was assigned to the district's commander Colonel General Vladimir Boldyrev.
"The last day of the session provides for a brigade-level tactical exercise with live firing, its principal objective being practicing a water offensive operation. Frontline aviation will participate in the exercise, too. The exercise of the 74th separate rifle brigade is to be carried out under supervision of Commander of the 41st Army Major General Vladimir Kovrov," the spokesman said.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov who arrived in the Siberian military district on Friday is expected to be present at the exercise.
The personnel of the 74th separate motorized rifle brigade was dispatched on combat missions in Chechnya from December 1994 to April 1995 and from September 1999 to March 2001. "About 8,000 servicemen gained combat experience in the republic, more than 3,000 soldiers and officers were granted state awards, and five servicemen became Heroes of Russia," the spokesman said.
The previous exercise was staged by the brigade in August 1999 not long before the unit was sent to Chechnya.
The training session of the Siberian military district's top brass is held once in two years at facilities of the 74th separate guard motorized rifle brigade in the Yurgino garrison, Kemerovo region. The brigade is commanded by Major General Farid Balaliyev.