Russian military wraps up exercise near Norwegian border

By Atle Staalesen, The Independent Barents Observer - October 25, 2016
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In a show of force, the land and coastal units of Russia’s Northern Fleet made full use of its powerful arsenal during this week’s exercise near border to Norway.

The drills were conducted jointly by the Northern Fleet’s land and coastal forces and held in Pechenga, just few kilometers from the border with Norway and Finland.

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Among the weaponry applied in the training was B-72b battle tanks, and self-propelled artillery 2S3 Akatsiya, Gvozdik, Nona and Msta-S, air defense artillery complex Shilka, rocket complex Strela-10, multiple rocket launcher BM-21 Grad and the anti-tank missile system 9K111 Fagot, according to the Northern Fleet.

Some 5,000 Russian troops took part in an exercise in Pechenga, near the Norwegian and Finnish borders. (Courtesy Mil.ru via The Independent Barents Observer)
Some 5,000 Russian troops took part in an exercise in Pechenga, near the Norwegian and Finnish borders. (Courtesy Mil.ru via The Independent Barents Observer)

In the exercise, the Naval infantry acted as the attacking part, while the motorized units were the defenders

More than 5,000 soldiers and 500 armored tanks and vehicles took part in the drills.

Pechenga houses the Northern Fleet’s 61st Naval infantry brigade, as well as the 200th Independent Motor Rifle Brigade.

It is not clear whether also the units from Alakurtti, the 80th Independent Motor Rifle Brigade, are taking part of the drills. The Alakurtti forces are a core part of Russia’s new Arctic Brigade. The brigade has an estimated 3,000 men.