Smooth actions of CSTO forces during Eshelon 2020 exercise praised

MOSCOW, 20 August (BelTA) – A special exercise for logistics and materiel support units of the collective rapid response forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) ended in the exercise area Kapustin Yar in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia on 20 August, BelTA learned from the exercise's press center.

In complicated conditions of the desert and steppe terrain aggravated by high air temperatures participants of the exercise responded to about 20 various scenarios. Participants of the exercise practiced the deployment of a logistic support control center, the transportation of military contingents, the organization of logistic support for the CSTO collective rapid response forces during a joint operation staged to localize an armed conflict in a border area. The featureless terrain, sparse vegetation, and dust raised by moving vehicles made it difficult to find bearings and camouflage troops.

Participants of the exercise practiced the defense of command centers and the replenishment of spent ammunition. The situation also required the organization of mass refueling of vehicles in field conditions, the organization of field repairs, the deployment of bath and laundry facilities and a mobile bakery.

During the closing ceremony Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, Colonel-General Anatoly Sidorov noted that new approaches to improving the CSTO's joint logistic support system had been tested. He remarked this area is one of the top-priority ones in the development of the military component of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The troops demonstrated a high level of cohesion in matters concerning logistic support, he stressed. Many rear services were deployed fast. Most of them were located in buried shelters. A reserve of drinking water was created. Many other actions the operation of joint forces requires were also practiced.

The exercise Eshelon 2020 [Echelon] was held on 17-20 August. Military units of the CSTO member states and the operations group of the CSTO Joint Staff took part in the exercise. A total of about 1,000 military personnel and some 250 vehicles were deployed for the exercise.