Russia stages war games near Georgia

Source: UPI

MOSCOW, June 30 (UPI) -- Russia has launched a massive military exercise in the Caucasus.

Georgia has called the war games, which involve 8,500 troops, 200 tanks, 450 armored vehicles and 250 pieces of artillery, a "pure provocation." Led by Russia's top military commander, Gen. Nikolai Makarov, they are due to last until July 6, the day U.S. President Barack Obama arrives in Moscow for talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Apart from ground troops, border units, the air force and the navy are taking part in the exercise, which will span across southern and southwestern Russia. It's the biggest military operation since last year's war with Georgia over the breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"The aim of the operation is to find out about the real state of the fighting and mobilization readiness of troops stationed in southwestern Russia," Andrei Bobrun, a spokesman from the Russian military, told RIA Novosti...cont'd



Read more: http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2009/06/30/Russia-stages-war-games-near-Georgia/UPI-62291246366800/

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Here we go again! More pipeline problems? Obama will be traveling to Moscow July 6th. Hmmmm....


Here's the NYT coverage of the Russian war games:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/world/europe/30russia.html

AND TWO WEEKS AGO -

NATO Targeting Russia in Baltic War Game?
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/06/nato-targeting-russia-in-baltic-war-game/

I kid...I kid.