Russia stages large-scale military drills

MOSCOW-On Friday, during a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu , Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an unexpected military drill, urging all forces to enter a state of full combat readiness on the night of July 13.”

Russia has staged large-scale military exercises in the country’s Eastern military district aimed at enhancing the defense capabilities of its armed forces, Defense Ministry says.

The drills, which are the largest surprise check of combat readiness of the Russian military in the post-Soviet period, started on Saturday.

The surprise training exercise involves over 80,000 troops, some 1,000 tanks and armored vehicles, 130 aircraft and helicopters 70 warships and will continue until July 20.

 “The main goal of the drills is to check the readiness of units to carry out their missions, and to assess the quality of their training and technical preparedness,” Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Earlier in May, Putin said that surprise military drills was a perfect way to keep the armed forces in good shape and pledged to continue similar practices in the future.

The Eastern Military District, which was formed in 2010, is considered as one of the four operational strategic commands of the Russian Armed Forces

M.D