Kazakhstan holds ship gunnery practice at Caspian Sea

The Coast Guard of the Kazakhstan National Security Commission’s Border Service has held a ship artillery combat shooting practice at the Caspian Sea, Tengrinews.kz reports citing the Border Service’s press-service. The drills involved 5 near-border ships, motor boats and around 300 officers. The exercise involved shooting targets at sea from the ships and air-to-sea attacks of support troops of the near-border aviation. The exercises were focused on protection of the state border of Kazakhstan. They included missions on elimination of illegal armed groups and suspension of smugglers. “The missions of the drills were fully completed. The near-border officers demonstrated good team work and excellent professional skills at all stages. The participants of the drills have acquired good experience of interaction between divisions of the Border Service during military actions,” head of the Regional Department of the Coast Guard Captain 1st Rank Kadyrzhan Mukanov said. At the official ceremony after the drills the militarymen of the Border Service were awarded with diplomas, letters of appreciation and memorable souvenirs. The event finished with the official marching of the personnel. In 2013 the Regional Department of the Coast Guard took part in 3 joint preventive events, special near-border operations and command post exercises (Rubezh-2013, Nelegal-2013 and Boskyn-2013). Kazakhstan marine border services are responsible for protection of the territorial waters, Kazakhstan’s continental shelf and countering illegal activities in the area.