Supplies of new equipment to Russia's 58th Army in the North Caucasus are practically suspended. This year the 19th and 42nd Motorized Infantry Divisions will get only 10 BTR-80 APCs made in 1990 and drawn from Defense Ministry storage bases. At least one Motorized Rifle Regiment replaced their "Nona" mortars with 122mm 2S1 self-propelled howitzers. The 58th Army's self-propelled artillery regiment commissioned the modernized 2B12M artillery system in 2001. The package is supposed to include eight command post vehicles and the unit is undergoing training on that mortar system. However, Federal troops in Chechnya would soon get BN-3 night-vision binoculars soon. Described as Generation 2+ image intensifiers powered by AA-type batteries, priority of issue would go to artillery and reconnaissance units. - Adam Geibel