Thread by @RALee85

Thread: The Eastern Military District just completed a large-scale exercise at the Tsugol Training Area in Zabaykalsky Krai with 10k servicemen, 2k pieces of equipment, and 30 aircraft, including Su-30SM, Su-34, Su-24, Su-25, Mi-24, and Mi-8AMTSh. h/t @KomissarWhipla 1/

The scenario involved an OPFOR taking advantage of poor weather to launch a ground invasion with tank and motor rifle units supported by a bomber regiment. This force quickly crushed Russian border guards and pushed nearly 500 km into Russian territory. 2/
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The 29th Combined Arms Army was able to slow the advance, and the VVO decided to reinforce it, including with an aircraft grouping some of which flew 2.5k km from Khabarovsk. The OPFOR also began to reinforce its force with tanks, IFVs, aircraft, and a tactical airborne force. 3/

Russian logistics units set up 13 logistics management points and 7 field refueling stations, and comm units equipped scattered CP across the training area with the necessary satcom, wire, and radio comm lines, including Redut-2US, R-166, R-441ОV Liven, and P-244 complexes. 4/

As the Russian force under Major General Berdnikov, the commander of the 29th Combined Arms Army, began planning how to dislodge the now fortified OPFOR, the OPFOR figured out the plans and decided to launch air strikes against the Russian reserves IOT thwart an offensive. 5/

The Russian fighters divided into 2 groups: one that engaged the OPFOR fighters, and the other to repel the OPFOR tactical bombers. Air defense forces also repelled attacks at the Telemba Training Area in Buryatia with Igla-S MANPADS, Tor, Strela-10, and Shilka AD systems. 6/

After repelling the OPFOR air attack, the Russian force launched Su-24 and Su-25 to recon and strike OPFOR targets. This was followed by simulated Iskander-M strikes on entrenched CPs, and Msta-B, 2S3 Akatsiya, BM-21 Grad, and Uragan artillery strikes. 7/
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The 36th Independent Guards Motor Rifle Brigade was then ordered to attack with artillery fire providing suppression (with 6 shells landing every minute for each 100 meter of the front), and adjusting fire with the advance, along with Mi-24 helicopters striking targets. 8/

The Mi-24 helicopters screened the flanks of the advancing brigade and struck OPFOR AT positions that were not defeated by previous artillery and air strikes. The exercise then involved a simulated CASEVAC on the 31st Brigade as its advance faced strong resistance. 9/

As the attack stalled, the Russian force decided to send its reserve to flank the OPFOR, cut off its escape route, and relieve the focus on the 36th Brigade. This tank/motor rifle force moved at night reaching the Opuk River when it was attacked by enemy air forces. 10/

Russian forces conducted a night live-fire, including with AD assets, to repel the attack. Engineers determined the frozen river could be crossed, and set up lanes. Russian RKhBZ set up a smoke screen for the crossing, and de-conned equipment after a simulated chemical attack.11/

More than 100 vehicles crossed the river and then approached the OPFOR's rear. Sappers created lanes through minefields with UR-77 MICLIC, which the tank and motor rifle force moved through to strike the OPFOR's reserves. 12/

After forcing the OPFOR to retreat, Major General Roman Berdnikov decided to regroup the troops for a decisive blow, which forced the remaining OPFOR out of Russian territory. 13/

The Tsugol TA was the location for the main part of the Vostok-2018 exercise, including where all of China's 3.2k troops participated. Obviously this exercise had China in mind as the OPFOR, though Russia would never publicly acknowledge this. 14/

It also highlights Russia's emphasis on conducting large-scale exercises (i.e. Army/Division level) even outside of the annual strategic exercise. Of the 10k servicemen who participated, 2k were reportedly from artillery units, which shows how much Russia emphasizes this arm.15/

Sources: vk.com/milinfolive?w=…
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