The defense Ministry has reported that Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has ordered snap military drills involving 150,000 personnel and hundreds of aircraft and naval vessels to ensure “security in Russia’s southwest.”
Minister Sergei Shoigu reported this in a statement released on Friday July 17, 2020.
“In accordance with the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces snap exercises are being conducted by troops of the Southern and Western military districts,” the minister said.
The Minister said the drills include about 150,000 personnel, airborne troops and marine infantry of the Northern and Pacific Fleets.
He added that,”The drills also involve more than 400 aircraft and over 100 vessels which will be conducted in the Black and Caspian Seas, among other places.”
According to him, the drills are aimed at testing the army’s readiness to enforce and ensure security in the country’s southwest which poses a threat of terrorism, and to also prepare for the Caucasus-2020 war games.
