Russia deployed its tactical-operational missile unit with Tochka-U rockets in South Ossetia "temporarily" for training purposes, Grigory Karasin, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, told RIA Novosti news agency on March 4.
"Tochka-U installations were deployed on the territory of South Ossetia for participation in the military exercises of our military base; they were deployed there temporarily," he said.
Karasin, however, did not specify when the rockets would be withdrawn.
He said that in the beginning of May Russia would submit to OSCE in frames of Global Exchange of Military Information (GEMI) mechanism detailed information about its military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. GEMI is an annual data exchange regime covering major weapons and personnel stationed outside the territory of OSCE participating state.
Deployment of Tochka-U (SS-21 Scarab B) short-range tactical ballistic missiles, in South Ossetia was first reported in late January.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry said at the time that the deployment of Tochka-U rockets, which have maximum range of 120 kilometers, “points clearly to the Russian Federation’s plans to launch open military aggression against Georgia.”
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