Mobility 2004 military exercise begins

Training action within the theater-level Mobility 2004 military exercise is beginning Monday.

The press service of the Russian Defense Ministry told RIA Novosti that Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov would go to the Russian Far East to supervise the run of the exercise there.

From Monday till Friday military units will train combat on unknown terrain in adverse climatic environment.

The exercise also includes search-and-destroy operations against terrorists and enemy reconnaissance and sabotage teams, shore defense, territorial defense, security of strategic transportation links, and liaison between the Armed Forces and other authorities, the press service said.

The topic of the exercise is declared as "preparation and execution of theater-level redeployment into the Far Eastern Region."

About 800 personnel of high-alert units with appropriate weapons and armor will be airlifted from West to East.

According to the Defense Ministry's press service, the Airborne troops, Marines, infantry, and their hardware will be airlifted with about 50 military and civilian (Transportation Ministry) transport aircraft.

"Over 100 armor pieces and wheeled vehicles will be involved in the exercise," the press service officer said.

He described the main objective of the exercise as result-oriented training of professional skills of troops and C3 sections, aimed to provide national military security.

The exercise is on the list of combat training events of the Russian Armed Forces for June 9 to 30.

Russian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Army General Anatoly Kvashnin is in charge of the exercise.