Russia has started military exercises of the Baltic Fleet, Airborne Troops and Air Force in Kaliningrad Region, Russia’s exclave on the Baltic Sea coast, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
The maneuvers are being held under the command of the Western Military District troops commander.
‘The drills are taking place simultaneously with the international drills Saber Strike 2014 and BALTOPS 2014 that kicked off in Europe,’ the ministry told Itar-Tass.
‘The number the Russian Defense Ministry’s troops and equipment involved is equatable with the number of personnel, armaments and military hardware employed in border exercises being conducted by NATO countries,’ it said.
Russian maneuvers involve vessel groups, Airborne Troops and Marine Corps units, Air Force formations, Sukhoi Su-34 (Fullback) fighter-bombers, Mil Mi-24 (Hind) helicopters and Tupolev Tu-22M3 (Backfire) bombers, the ministry said.
A major military exercise kicked off in Latvia on June, 9. The war games involve 4,700 troops and 800 military vehicles.
NATO’s Saber Strike ground forces exercise is being conducted for the fourth time this year and coincides with Baltic Host 2014 and Baltops 2014 naval drills.Troops from the US, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Norway and the UK are taking part. The two-week exercise is hosted by the three Baltic States, although some parts will be conducted in Germany.
www.belsat.eu/en, following itar-tass, rt.com
