Russia on Monday started its biggest military exercises in the Caucasus since its war with neighbouring Georgia last year, mobilising thousands of troops in a clear warning to its foes.
Georgia swiftly condemned as "dangerous" the week-long exercises, which are taking place just north of where Russia and Georgia fought over the pro-Moscow breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia.
About 8,500 troops are participating in the "Caucasus 2009" exercises and up to 200 tanks, 450 armoured cars and 250 artillery pieces of various types, according to the Russian defence ministry.
It added that the war game focusing on counter-terrorism and the defence of strategic targets will run until July 6 — the day US President Barack Obama arrives for a much anticipated summit in Moscow.
"The aim of the exercises is to establish the actual state of battle readiness and troop mobilisation deployed in Russia’s southwest region," local military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Andrei Bobrun told Russian news agencies.
A high-ranking military source was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying that Georgia was still seeking "military adventures" and had rebuilt its military capacity to the same level as last August.
"The current Georgian leadership has not given up on new military adventures… or attempts to resolve its territorial problems through the use of force," the source said.
Taking aim at Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, the source added: "The exercises will certainly contribute to stability in the south of Russia and the Caucasus as a whole and cool down the fantasies of some warmongers."
Source/Full Story: The Raw Story
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