Russia to spend $300 mn on training special forces

Moscow, April 24 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The Russian defence ministry will allocate 10 billion roubles (about $300 million) on training programmes for special forces, the commander of the Airborne Assault Forces (VDV) said Wednesday.

The special forces will be trained at a military intelligence department and the programme will be launched within the next two or three years, said Col. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov.

Special forces include Special Operations Troops, VDV and Navy and Army special units. They will be trained at a military intelligence department of the Ryazan VDV Academy, Shamanov said.

He also said that he has proposed the establishment of a rapid reaction corps and creation of a separate "mobile" military district in Russia.

That would result in the creation of a fifth tactical-strategic command that would make it possible to provide "a comprehensive response to threats and challenges both inside and outside the country", he said.

That refers primarily to peacekeeping operations under UN auspices as well as operations carried out as part of Russia's obligations to its Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) allies, Shamanov said.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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