Russian forces relocating S-400, Pantsir-S systems from Volga district to Astrakhan region ahead of drills

YEKATERINBURG. March 9 (Interfax) - Forces of Russia's Central Military District have begun redeploying S-400 Triumph long-range air defense missile systems and Pantsir-S missile and gun systems from the Volga district to the Astrakhan region, which will host the next stage of an air defense forces' exercise, the military district's press service said.

"Air defense military units stationed in the Saratov region have begun loading launchers, command vehicles and transporter-loader vehicles of S-400 Triumph missile systems and Pantsir-S missile and gun systems, engineering equipment, and logistics supplies onto flatcars," the press service said.

"Around 100 pieces of hardware and 300 personnel will be relocated from the Saratov region to the Astrakhan region to conduct launches of anti-aircraft guided missiles," it said.

The air defense units will head to the designated district in a combined manner and will have to cover more than 1,000 kilometers, it said.

"The air defense forces of the Central Military District will conclude this exercise, which is one of these forces' largest maneuvers, in April. At the third stage of the drills, due in late March, air defense personnel will conduct a live-fire exercise at a training range in the Astrakhan region, firing on targets imitating mock enemy air attack weapons," the military district said.

As part of preparations for the live-fire exercise in the Astrakhan region, the Central Military District's air defense forces will take tests in the subjects of combat training, will demonstrate their skills to deploy and disguise the systems and will embark on a training mission to protect the airspace over their new deployment area, it said.

The exercise's first phase, which involved S-400 Triumph long-range air defense missile systems and Pantsir-S short-range systems, took place in the Saratov and Novosibirsk regions.