© PHOTO: RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY
New York Times: Russia Announces Surprise Military Drills in South
MOSCOW — Russia’s Defense Ministry announced a surprise military exercise on Monday that ordered troops garrisoned throughout the nation’s southern region to full combat readiness, a move that appeared intended to unnerve neighbors.
State television showed pilots clambering into their airplanes in snowy airfields and officers unfurling maps and speaking on telephones. The exercise began at 5 a.m.
“From that moment, we began our surprise check of the military preparedness in the southwest strategic direction,” Sergei K. Shoigu, the defense minister, said in comments carried on state television.
The military said the training was needed to test the military’s readiness to rebuff a foreign attack or help in a natural disaster in southern Russia.
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WNU Editor: This Russian region is the closest to Syria. It is also a clear message to Turkey and to the Arab states to not intervene directly in Syria.
More News On Russia Putting Its Military Forces On High Alert Across Southwestern Russia As Part Of Massive Drills
Russian troops put on high alert as part of massive drills -- AP
Snap combat readiness checks begin in Russia’s southern military district — minister -- TASS
Russia Puts South Military District’s Airborne Forces on Full Combat Alert -- Sputnik
Putin Calls for Snap Military Drill on East Ukraine Borders -- Newsweek
Russia starts snap drills in southern military district -- Xinhuanet
Russia notified OSCE of surprise check in Southern Military District — defense ministry -- TASS
2 comments:
" a surprise military exercise....a move that appeared intended to unnerve neighbors"
But it actually was a response to Operation Atlantic Resolve:
.." a demonstration of continued U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO and to enduring peace and stability in the region, in light of Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine.
"Since April 2014, Army Europe has led land forces efforts on behalf of the U.S. military, by conducting continuous, enhanced multinational training and security cooperation activities with allies and partners in eastern Europe.
"These multinational training and security cooperation activities are taking place in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary...."
The situation in Ukraine has been slowly unraveling all winter and spring is fast approaching...
Also the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh has been devolving as of late and could threaten to seriously inflame Turkish-Russian relations more so than they already are should open hostilities erupt there...
And oh yah the whole Syria thing too...
I don't see this one focused on NATO so much as other, very real threats right on Russia's southern doorstep, primarily in the Caucasus's
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