Russian military drills range from Arctic to Armenia

The Russian Defence Ministry said Tuesday that large-scale military exercises have been extended until Saturday and that troops in places as far-flung as Armenia and the Arctic were participating. Europeonline magazine reports.

The ministry said in a statement that parts of the Baltic Fleet and air force formations in western Russia joined the exercise, which began Monday in the Arctic region.

On Tuesday, practically all vessels of Russia‘s Northern Fleet left the Arctic harbour of Severomorsk to train for an enemy airstrike, the Interfax news agency quoted a defence ministry spokesman as saying.

In Armenia, some 300 Russian soldiers took part in a survival exercise in mountainous territory, Interfax reported. Russia has a permanent military base in the South Caucasus country.

The Defence Ministry said that the drills were part of its battle preparedness plan for this year. Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov said that Russia voluntarily informed the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) about the drills.

He said that the number of participating servicemen was below the ceiling of 8,700 agreed with the European security watchdog in 2011.

However, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Monday that up to 38,000 military personnel were affected by the drills.

The exercises come at a time of tensions between Russia and the West over the conflict in Ukraine. NATO is holding maneuvers in the Black Sea and increasing its military presence in the Baltic States.