Russian troops practice defense against military drones in South Ossetia
Russian military specialists in combating unmanned aerial vehicles repelled a mock enemy drone attack on the defense perimeter of their S-300 missile systems in South Ossetia. Military snipers from the Southern Military district base also took part in the operation an attack, RIA Novosti reports, citing the press service of the Southern Military district.
"During the special tactic exercises, specialists of the Krasukha electronic warfare system and the crew of the Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and gun system destroyed about 30 ‘enemy’ drones,” the press service of the Southern Military district stated.
Motorized infantry of the Russian military base and a motorized rifle unit from Vladikavkaz have been working together during the training defensive actions to protect mountain passes and tunnels from attempted seizure.
Over two thousand servicemen and about four hundred units of military equipment are involved in the joint exercises at the Dzartsem military tarining range in South Ossetia.
As a result of the Russia-Georgia war in 2008, Russia recognized the independence of two Georgian regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and moved additional troops and weapons to its military bases in these territories.
Tbilisi severed diplomatic relations with Moscow in August 2008 after Russia recognized the sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia - the two autonomous regions that were part of Georgia and sought independence from it even before the collapse of the USSR. The European Union also does not recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, declaring support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.
The legal status of South Ossetia as an independent republic was recognized by only five states - Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and Tuvalu.
In March 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the unrecognized South Ossetia, Leonid Tibilov, signed an agreement on cooperation and integration. In March 2017, the Russian government approved an agreement on the inclusion of the military of South Ossetia in the Russian army.