Shoigu: Putin orders Arctic fleet, airborne troops to combat readiness in latest snap drill
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russian President Putin gave the order to bring the Northern Fleet to full combat readiness in an exercise similar to others this year.
Some troops in the western military district, which sits up against the Baltics and Ukraine, will also be participating. As in an exercise last month, the airborne troops will take part, Ekho Moskvy news site reported.
The exercise will involve around 40,000 troops, over 3000 units of combat equipment and vehicles, 41 ships, 15 submarines and over 100 aircraft.
Although a confirmed Vladimir Putin sighting has not occurred since he has been out of the public eye for the last 10 days, media reported that the aircraft that customarily carries Putin landed in St. Petersburg, where he is expected to meet his Kyrgyz counterpart today.
Editor: K. Rikken