the development of russian military policy and finland

Annex 4 · 97
from reserve, brought to full readiness and performed a combat exercise between
13 and 30 September 2012. 349
The brigade organization is more flexible and fits better into local conflicts in
comparison with previous division organization. The main function of the
ground force brigades as a permanent-readiness formation is capability to operate
independently with highly mobile battle groups or other brigades under
common command.
War games are yet another tool used in annual command exercises that are
conducted in the country’s different strategic regions. In 2012 the Russian
Army tested its new organizational and command structures, much like it did
during the Zapad (West) 2009, Vostok (East) 2010 and Zentr (Center) 2011
exercises. 350
The Russian Military Exercise Activities in 2012
The intensity and activity of Russia’s Armed Forces have gradually grown
over the last few years. Several factors have contributed. Main reasons are
found in the recently introduced new military organisation (military command-army-brigade),
adopted new equipment, weaponry and particularly test
runs of the new command and control system. 351 It seems that the command
system tested in Zapad-2009 and Ladoga-2009 was then still in its infancy.
The Russian Armed Forces’ exercises cover practically all the services and
branches plus other power ministries’ armed elements.
In addition, Russia has traditionally conducted exercises mutually with some
other country or even multinational exercises and, of course, military exercises
of her own. The year 2012 is not an exception in this respect.
As for the coming large-scale strategic exercise in 2013, the Russian General
Staff has released information that the biggest exercise of the whole Russian
Armed Forces will be “Zapad-2013” (West 2013) in September 2013, at the
same time a Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) exercise. 352
349 RIA Novosti, 14 September 2012, “Военные учения проходят в Карелии впервые с
90-х годов” (Military Exercise Is Held First Time in Karelia since the 1990s) [http://ria.
ru/defense_safety/20120914/750088693.html].
350 Kramnik, 2012.
351 Zemlya Masterov (The Land of Masters), ”В России проходят военные учения
военные с тестированием современных новинок военно-промышленного
комплекса” (In Russia There Have Been Vonducted Military Exercises with Testing of
Modern Military-Industrial Complex) [http://zema.su/blog/v-rossii-prokhodyat-voen-nyeucheniya-voennye-s-testirovaniem-sovremennykh-novinok-voenno-promys].
352 The Voice of Russia, 23 October 2012, “Russia to Strengthen CSTO Alliance in Response
to U.S. Anti-Missile Shield” [http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_10_23/Russia-to-strengthen-