MOSCOW, Russia: Russia has commenced extensive military exercises involving its entire navy, except for units engaged in the Ukraine conflict.
Announced by the defence ministry, these large-scale drills include around 300 vessels, submarines, and over 20,000 personnel, covering operations in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as the Baltic and Caspian Seas.
The exercises aim to conduct over 300 combat drills with live weapon use. The primary objectives are to evaluate the operational command capabilities across different navy divisions and to assess the readiness of naval crews, aviation units, and coastal troops.
Units from the Northern, Pacific, Baltic fleets, and the Caspian Flotilla will participate, each performing drills in their designated operational zones. Notably, the Black Sea Fleet, heavily involved in the Ukraine conflict, will not be part of these exercises. This fleet has faced substantial losses, with Ukraine claiming significant damage to Russian naval assets. Recent satellite images reveal that most of the Black Sea Fleet has been relocated from Sevastopol in Crimea to Novorossiysk on the Russian mainland.
The drills will also involve about 50 aircraft and over 200 pieces of specialized military equipment. According to the defence ministry, the exercises are expected to last for several days, focusing on testing both strategic and tactical capabilities across various maritime domains.
