KYIV. Sept 18 (Interfax-AVN) - The field stage of the Forpost 2002 research command post exercise (CPX) ended at the 240th joint- arms proving range located in the Zhytomyr region and subordinate to the Northern operational command of the Ukrainian Land Forces, the Defense Ministry's press service reported on Wednesday.
"The field stage of the exercise made the maximal use of units of the Unified Quick-Response Forces," the press service said.
The event involved a total of about 6,500 servicemen, 20 combat and transport planes, 12 helicopters, nine vessels and boats, some 600 pieces of armament and military hardware. In particular, the CPX featured mechanized and aeromobile battalions, a tank company, a self-propelled artillery battalion, an SAM battery, a composite helicopter squadron and a wing of a separate attack aircraft regiment.
The Forpost 2002 exercise takes place with a goal to check views of Ukrainian military theoreticians on ways and methods of using the Unified Rapid-Deployment Forces that are being established by the country.
Units and formations of the forces practiced in covering the state border, holding raids, organizing mobile defense when rebuffing attacks of a maneuver enemy, blocking ways of the enemy's retreat by aeromobile landing parties, inflicting damage by fire in the enemy's base area, destroying a reconnaissance unit and a subversive and scouting group of the enemy.
Defense Minister Volodymir Shkidchenko observed the exercise and Chief-of-Staff Oleksander Zatynaiko supervised it.