Russian Troops on Highest Europe Mount

Moscow, Aug 15 (Prensa Latina) The Russian Ministry of Defense is preparing to locate two mountain brigades in the northern Caucasian Mountains, following the historic conquest of Europe`s highest mountain Mt. Elbrus (18,510 feet).

A Russian infantry company completed the expedition to Mt. Elbrus on Wednesday, a deed unprecedented in Russian military history.
Arriving close together, heavily armed Russian troops climbed the eastern and western sides of the peak of the mountain and planted the national and infantry flags.
Andrei Bobrun, assistant commander of the Northern Caucasian Mountains Military District, said once the mission was accomplished the forces went down to occupy positions at a height of 14,763 feet for firing practice.

The Russian troops shot from 82 millimeter mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and bazookas at armored vehicles, Bobrun told Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

Russia intends to deploy 4,000 soldiers of the two brigades in Borlii (Daguestan) and Zelenchulskaya (Karachaevo-Cherkisia).

Mount Elbrus is near the Russian border with Georgia, it is the only mountain more than 14,000 feet high in the Caucasian Mountains that, with the Ural Mountains, separates Europe from Asia.