Members of the Serbian Armed Forces demonstrate high readiness in exercise in Russia
Saturday, 18.8.2018 | International Co-operation
Members of the 37th Mechanized Battalion of the 3rd Army Brigade have successfully performed live firing exercise at the Luga firing range in the Russian Federation.
Members of the Serbian Armed Forces, along with their colleagues from the 25th Motor Rifle Brigade and the 9th Artillery Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, accomplished all the set tasks and successfully neutralised targets and other goals.
Lieutenant General Andrey Kuzmenko, exercise director and Commander the 6th Russian Army, evaluated the work of the participants in the exercise with a high grade “very good”. Colonel Goran Stamenković from the Army Command said that the Serbian Armed Forces has a multiple benefit from such military exercises.
- In an unknown field with similar weapons, we are verifying ourselves how capable we are of operating in such conditions with other foreign armed forces. In cooperation with colleagues from Russia, we are also verifying our procedures and our tactics – Colonel Stamenković explained.
The members of the 37th mechanized battalion of the Serbian Armed Forces in Kuršumlija used the Russian materiel and weapons – AK-74 automatic rifles, RPK machine guns, RPG-7 hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers and MT-LB armoured vehicles equipped with the Kord 12.7mm machine guns.
Speaking about the exercise, Lieutenant Colonel Grujica Vuković, Commander of the 37th Mechanized Battalion, said that cooperation with colleagues from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was primarily seen in sharing experiences in how a mechanised battalion is carrying out defence.
- I consider the exercise successfully performed. There was no violation of security measures. Now we have to return to our units – Lieutenant Colonel Vuković said.
At the training in the Luga firing range, the Serbian Armed Forces also had its own logistics, which took care about the supply of food and drinking water, as well as the medical care of our members.
- The idea of my commander was to see here, in the field, how the logistics in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation works. I must thank my colleagues from Russia who did their best to meet our needs while we stayed on their training grounds – Major Bratislav Krstić from the 37th mechanised battalion pointed out.
Lieutenant Milenko Stepančević, mechanized platoon commander, is also satisfied with the cooperation with colleagues from Russia, adding that participation in the exercise is a new experience.
- The specificity of staying in the Russian Federation is frequent change of weather conditions. It is cold in the morning, it rains overnight, and in the evening we freeze again – Lieutenant Stepančević explains, stating that the extreme climatic conditions did not prevent him to achieve very good results in all segments of the exercise with his platoon.
The final presentation in the exercise on 17th August was attended by Colonel Budimir Gajić, the Defence Attache of the Republic of Serbia to the Russian Federation. A closing ceremony was also held, and later a friendly football game, as well.
The exercise involved 195 members of the Serbian Armed Forces and 600 members of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, with a total of 200 pieces of materiel. The Russian Armed Forces used the MSTA-S self-propelled howitzers, GRAD rocket launchers, Mi-35 and Mi-28N helicopters, and the Su-35S aircraft. In addition to armament and mechanised infantry, the Serbian Armed Forces also used 120 mm mortars.
