MOSCOW (TASS) — Armoured units of Russia’s 201^st military base started tactical drills at the Lyaur practice range in Tajikistan, the press office of the Central Military District reported on Tuesday.

T-72 tank

(© Anton Novoderezhkin / TASS)

The 201^st military base stationed in Tajikistan is Russia’s largest military facility outside its borders. The military base is located in the cities of Dushanbe and Bokhtar. The military base’s armament includes T-72 tanks, BTR-82A armoured personnel carriers, Grad multiple launch rocket systems and Gvozdika and Akatsiya artillery systems.

In a statement the press office declared:

The crews of T-72 tanks performed a march to the area of the drills and started fortifying firing positions, command and observation posts for holding manoeuvrable defence against a notional enemy’s mechanized units that have overcome mountainous terrain.

Overall, the drills involve about 1,000 personnel and over 200 armaments and items of military hardware, the statement reads.

During the drills, the tank crews supported by artillery will practice manoeuvres of counter-offensive, employing motorized infantry units and unmanned aerial vehicles and employing such techniques as tank ambushes, a manoeuvre into the enemy’s flank and rear and carrying out raids, the press office specified.

The drills will end on September 27 with check firing of organic shells in the daytime and at night.