The President recalled that one of Russia's priorities in the National Security Strategy through to 2020 adopted in May 2009 is to shape the new features of the army and navy. The key challenges in this area should be completed by December 1, 2009.
The Caucasus 2009 strategic exercise took place in the southern part of European Russia from June 29 to July 6 under the leadership of Army General Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
The exercises were designed to coordinate the actions of commanders, staffs and divisions in the preparation, organisation and conduct of hostilities by the Joint Force, as well as to resolve issues of management, collaboration and communication.
The main feature of the Caucasus 2009 exercise was that the staff of the North Caucasus Military District, the 58th Army, units and military divisions of the District operated within the new organisational and staffing structure that is in line with the Armed Forces' new features.