Russia is getting ready to counteract and repel land-sea-air military aggression on its western, northern, southern and eastern borders simultaneously, as massive drills of all military branches are underway across Russia.
Motorized infantry, combat aviation and Spetznaz troops have been
put on alert in all nine time zones of the Russian Federation,
including the Volga region, Urals, Western Siberia, the Far East
region and the Pacific, the North Caucasus and along the borders
of NATO member states from the Arctic through to the Baltic and
Black Sea.
READ MORE: Massive surprise drills launched in Arctic on
Putin’s orders (VIDEO)
The ongoing military drills are taking place concurrently with US
military exercises in the Baltic region and NATO naval drills in
the Black Sea.
Russia has notified the countries of the Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) of the Northern Fleet
exercises that are happening March 16-21, Deputy Defense Minister
Anatoly Antonov announced on Tuesday.
The operational zone of the Northern Fleet’s drills has been
expanded to the Norwegian Sea, and the number of deployed naval
task groups has been increased to five, the Defense Ministry
reported.
“The commanding staff of the Northern Fleet has decided to
build up the contingent involved in training missions to defend
Russia’s borders in the Arctic,” the ministry said in a
statement.
#ПроверкаБоеготовности: Морпехи #СФ
вышли в район сосредоточения и готовятся к погрузке на большие
десантные корабли pic.twitter.com/C5QHFY7fIg
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) March
17, 2015
More than 20 ships of the Russia’s Baltic Fleet are out at sea
conducting defense drills, the Russian Western Military
District’s press service announced on Wednesday. The ships,
deployed in several tactical groups, are performing artillery,
anti-submarine and air defense exercises. Part of the training
has been assigned for nighttime.
A tactical group of the Russian Black Sea fleet will hold
military exercises on Thursday, targeting decoy enemy bombers and
battleships.
Paratroopers from the Ivanovo Airborne Division have been
relocated inside the Arctic Circle next to the Norwegian border
on Ilyushin Il-76 airlifters to train countering subversive
groups, maintain anti-aircraft defense, perform engineering and
radiation reconnaissance and sharpen field camouflage skills.
Морпехи Северного флота России в рамках проверки десантируются
на побережье в Арктике http://t.co/tpBEBuWaQL pic.twitter.com/KOxzuH2w5W
— Общественная палата (@op_rf) March 17,
2015
The Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday that Russian marines
from Temryuk in south Russia’s Krasnodar region have been put on
full combat readiness and are training next to the Kerch Strait
connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The units are
conducting exercises in conditions similar to real military
activities, using simulation tools to train counteracting
subversive groups and repelling enemy amphibious assault
landings.
МО РФ: морская пехота у Керченского пролива приведена в
наивысшую боевую готовность http://t.co/holso1qzrm pic.twitter.com/4aC07S5BBE
— ✯Русская Тишина✯ (@sovprezidenta) March
18, 2015
Russia’s strategic command has put mechanized troops of the
Eastern Military District, deployed on the island of Sakhalin in
the Pacific, on the highest levels of combat alert. Up to 3,000
troops and nearly 1,000 military vehicles are training defense of
the coast in close cooperation with the Air Force.
Over 30 army aviation crews are being relocated from airfields in
the Leningrad and Smolensk regions to a military airfield in the
Arctic. Mil Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters are set to cover over
1,500 kilometers with a stopover for refueling in the Karelia
region.
About 80 military pilots of the Eastern Command are taking part
in ‘Airdarts’ contest that includes performing air stunts,
bomb-dropping and unguided missiles firing, using Su-25, Su-27SM,
Su-24M2 assault and fighter jets.
Assault helicopter pilots are training live ammo shooting,
ultra-low flying and evading air defenses.
READ MORE: Supersonic strategic bombers heading to Crimea
for drills – military source
Over 2,000 engineer troops and 350 special vehicles of the
Central Military Command are training in demining all types of
military explosives, using brand-new standoff IED detection
vehicles.
The ongoing snap check of the military involves about 76,000
troops, over 10,000 units of military hardware and special
equipment, 65 battleships,16 support vessels, 15 submarines, 200
warplanes and helicopters.
In December 2014, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced plans to
conduct at least 4,000 military drills in 2015.
