Russian Military Conducts A Surprise Nationwide Military Drill

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu provided details of Russia's latest snap exercise at the National Defence Control Centre in Moscow on 16 March Source: Russian MoD

Reuters: Russia starts nationwide show of force

(Reuters) - More than 45,000 Russian troops as well as war planes and submarines started military exercises across much of the country on Monday in one of the Kremlin's biggest shows of force since its ties with the West plunged to Cold War-lows.

President Vladimir Putin called the Navy's Northern Fleet to full combat readiness in exercises in Russia's Arctic North apparently aimed at dwarfing military drills in neighboring Norway, a NATO member.

"New challenges and threats to military security require the armed forces to further boost their military capabilities. Special attention must be paid to newly created strategic formations in the north," Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said, quoted by RIA news agency.

More News On The Russian Military Conducting A Surprise Nationwide Military Drill

Massive surprise drills launched in Arctic on Putin’s orders -- RT
Putin Orders Northern Fleet to Full Alert for Combat Readiness Drills -- Sputnik
Units of Russia's Baltic Fleet, Southern Military District, Airborne Force on combat alert -- ITAR-TASS
Attack aircraft exercise launched in Siberia -- ITAR-TASS
Army tactical exercises with live firing launched in North Caucasus foothills -- ITAR-TASS
OSCE member-states informed of Russia's Northern Fleet drills — deputy defense minister -- ITAR-TASS
Putin Puts Troops on Full Alert in Western Russia Drills -- Bloomberg
Russia Puts Military in Baltics, South on Full Alert in Drills -- Bloomberg
Russian Military Brings Forces to Combat-Readiness in Drills -- NYT/AP
Russia places 38,000 troops on alert for snap exercises -- IHS Jane's 360
Amid NATO exercises, Russia puts Northern Fleet on 'full alert' -- CNN
Putin Puts Russia’s Northern Fleet on ‘Full Alert’ in Response to NATO Drills -- Time
In latest testy move, Putin launches military drills in Arctic -- CSM
Putin Said To Put Northern Fleet On Alert For Arctic Exercises -- Radio Free Europe
Russia conducts massive drills in military districts, Kyrgyzstan -- Xinhuanet
Putin Puts 45,000 Troops On Alert; Conducts Nationwide Military Exercises -- Western Journalism