August 11, 201015 yr CV32: Take a look at a map or Google Earth. This step essentially grounds the Georgian Air Force (as small as it may be) and locks down the regional airspace. From DefenseNews Russia Deploys S-300 Missiles in Abkhazia: Gen. By STUART WILLIAMS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Published: 11 Aug 2010 12:19 MOSCOW - Russia announced Aug. 11 it had deployed a missile battery in Georgia's pro-Moscow rebel region of Abkhazia, infuriating its arch foes in Tbilisi some two years since they fought a brief war. "We have deployed the S-300 system on the territory of Abkhazia," air force commander-in-chief Gen. Alexander Zelin said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies. "Its role will be anti-aircraft defense of the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in cooperation with the air defense systems of the army." Georgia insists that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are an integral part of its territory but Russia in 2008 recognized the two regions as independent after its war with Tbilisi. "The task of these air defense systems is not only to cover the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia but to avert violations of state borders in the air," Zelin said. They were also aimed at the "destruction of any flying object penetrating into the covered territories, whatever aim they were flying with," he added. Tbilisi rapidly warned that Russia's deployment was of concern not only to Georgia but should also worry NATO. Georgia's ambition to join NATO has long flustered Russia. "This should be of concern not only for Georgia but also for other regional actors, including NATO," Deputy Prime Minister and Reintegration Minister Temur Yakobashvili told AFP. He said the move by Moscow could be linked to its anger over U.S. plans to install missile defence facilities in former Communist bloc East European countries who have become members of NATO. "This is changing the balance of power in the region," he said. "It is also a kind of asymmetric answer to the American missile defense deployment in Eastern Europe. .... The Russian government is saying 'if you can do it, we can do it.'" Abkhazia is less than 200 kilometers (125 miles) across the Black Sea from NATO member Turkey. Russia at the weekend marked the second anniversary of the outbreak of the war with Georgia, with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev making a surprise visit to Abkhazia on Aug. 8, his first trip since the conflict. In an embarrassment for Moscow, only Venezuela, Nicaragua and the tiny Pacific island state of Nauru have followed its move to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The S-300 is one of Russia's most prized missile assets and has been the subject of a long-running controversy over the fulfillment of a contract to deliver the weapons to Iran. Russia signed a contract to sell the systems to Iran several years ago, but has failed to deliver the weapons amid pressure from the West which fears they would be used against any aerial attack on the Islamic republic. First manufactured by the Soviet Union in 1978, the S-300 is a surface-to-air missile system capable of tracking and destroying ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft at a range of up to 100-200 kilometers (62-124 miles). The 2008 war saw Russian forces pour into Georgia after fighting broke out over South Ossetia, prompting the worst post-Cold War crisis between Russia and the West. An EU-brokered ceasefire has held, despite tensions.
August 12, 201015 yr Author From RIA Novosti France concerned over Russia's S-300 deployment in Abkhazia 16:49 12/08/2010 The French Foreign Ministry has said the deployment of Russian S-300 air defense systems in the former Georgian republic of Abkhazia undermines stability in the region. Russian Air Force head Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said on Wednesday S-300 systems had been placed in Abkhazia to protect the airspace of Abkhazia and the other former Georgian republic of South Ossetia. He did not say how many S-300s had been deployed. "We are concerned about [Russia's] announcement about the deployment of air defense systems in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It [deployment] harms stability in the region," a spokeswoman for the French Foreign Ministry told a news conference in Paris. France acted as an intermediary in the settlement of a five-day conflict between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia in August 2008. Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia two days after the conflict, which began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control. Russia signed agreements with South Ossetia and Abkhazia earlier this year on establishing permanent military bases in the republics. The bases are located in Gudauta, on Abkhazia's Black Sea coast, and in South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali. Each base hosts up to 1,700 servicemen, T-62 tanks, light armored vehicles, air defense systems and a variety of aircraft. On Wednesday, the Georgian Foreign Ministry described the Russian move as "extremely dangerous and provocative," saying it threatened "not only the Black Sea region, but European security as a whole." Washington later downplayed the Russian move by saying that the move was not a new development as Moscow had been deploying S-300 missiles in Abkhazia for the past two years.
August 12, 201015 yr Author From RIA Novosti U.S. not surprised by Russia's missile deployment in Abkhazia 04:55 12/08/2010 Washington is not surprised by reports that Russia deployed S-300 air-defense systems on the territory of former Georgian republic of Abkhazia, the U.S. Department of State said. Russian Air Force head Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said on Wednesday S-300 systems had been placed in Abkhazia to protect the airspace of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He did not say how many S-300s were deployed. "I believe it's our understanding that Russia has had S-300 missiles in Abkhazia for the past two years," Philip Crowley, the department's assistant secretary, told a daily press briefing. "There have been systems in Abkhazia for two years. We can't confirm whether they [Russia] have added to those systems or not... this is by itself is not necessarily a new development. That system has been in place for some time," he added. The Georgian Foreign Ministry described the Russian move as "extremely dangerous and provocative" and threatening "not only the Black Sea region, but European security as a whole." Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia two weeks after a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008, which began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control. Russia signed agreements with South Ossetia and Abkhazia earlier this year on establishing permanent military bases in the republics. The bases are located in Gudauta, on Abkhazia's Black Sea coast, and in South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali. Each base hosts up to 1,700 servicemen, T-62 tanks, light armored vehicles, air defense systems and a variety of aircraft.
August 12, 201015 yr , I like the contrast in French and US reports. The French are properly concerned, the US takes the practical approach and states the obvious "duh!".
August 12, 201015 yr The bases are located in Gudauta, on Abkhazia's Black Sea coast, and in South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali. Each base hosts up to 1,700 servicemen, T-62 tanks, light armored vehicles, air defense systems and a variety of aircraft. T-62s?!!? YGBFKM ...
August 13, 201015 yr Author T-62s?!!? YGBFKM ... Yah, serving in reserve units, some of which saw action during the 2008 war (suffered more than a few losses too). Plenty still in storage as well.
August 13, 201015 yr T-62s?!!? YGBFKM ... Yah, serving in reserve units, some of which saw action during the 2008 war (suffered more than a few losses too). Plenty still in storage as well. About 3000 in reserve around one third of those in condition to be active in a week or less. Thats what I have read anyways,also they are supposed to be easier to maintain in the field and in forward bases better then the newer stuff so that may be why they got them there. Besides unless we were going to ship Georgia a butt load of anti tank missiles t-62 are more then enough to roll down the road again and put things "back in order".
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