REUTERS
A motorized rifle unit of Russia’s Eastern military district on the island of Sakhalin and marines stationed in the village of Temriuk of Krasnodar region were among many Russian military units put on high combat alert on Tuesday, according to the Press Service and Information Department of Russian Defense Ministry, Russian news agency TASS has reported.
“Motorized rifle, tank, artillery, anti-aircraft missile units and support units have advanced to muster areas. The units will later march to designated areas, set up combat training positions and with the support of army aviation start working on practical tasks for … the defense of the sea coast," the press office said.
The exercises will involve more than three thousand troops, and about one thousand units of weapons, military and special equipment, the press office said.
The marines of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy, which are stationed in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory of Crimea, were also brought in full combat readiness.
"The units’ personnel have carried out a full range of measures on combat readiness and marched with regular equipment to designated areas,” said the Russian Defense Ministry.
“In the areas for carrying out combat training tasks, the staff will set up fortifications, and prepare military equipment and weapons to carry out training and test firings."
Earlier, the Russian military launched massive military exercises in the Arctic. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that "new challenges and military threats require the further improvement of the [Russian] armed forces’ capabilities."