Russia buys horses in Mongolia for two mountain brigades

MOSCOW, August 3 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Defence Ministry has bought horses in Mongolia for two mountain brigades located in Botlikha, Dagestan, and the Cossack village of Zelenchukskaya, the Karachai-Cherkess Republic.

Military transport planes will begin airlifting the horses to a new place of service on Sunday, Colonel Vladimir Drik, the chief of the Russian Air Forces information and public relations service, told
Itar-Tass.

"Russian military transport planes will transport the horses from
Mongolia to Mozdok in North Ossetia from August 3 to 5. Colonel Pyotr
Gratsianov, the chief veterinary expert, and representatives of the main command of the Russian Air Force have left for Mongolia to assess the animals' physical condition," Colonel Drik went on to say.

The Russian president ordered to form two motor rifle (mountain)
brigades on September 11, 2004. On December 1, 2007 the brigades began combat training. Their total strength 4,566 people. Each brigade consists of a motor rifle (mountain) battalion, an artillery division, combat and logistics support units.