The Concentration of the Russian troops in the Crimea has been strengthened, Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Putin, informing the Supreme Commander-in-Chief about the sudden maneouvres in the Southern Federal District of Russia. (All photos by Vadim Savitsky)
Attack helicopters took off to strike a conditional enemy. Radar equipment was used to scan the territory of more than 400 kilometers
The practice of unscheduled military drills in the country will be continued
Vladimir Putin ordered unscheduled military exercises for units of the Southern Military District. Up to 8,500 troops and up to 900 units of hardware are involved in the drills, as well as nearly 50 warships and 200 aircravt and helicopters
Up to 50 warships of the Black Sea Fleet and Caspian Flotilla take part in the unscheduled drills
Headquarters of the drills are located in the Rostov region, as well as in the cities of Sevastopol and Simferopol
President Putin stated at the end of the unscheduled drills that the Crimea and Russia's entire strategic territory in the south of the country were very well protected
The drills were conducted on 18 range grounds
The head of the Chiefs of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov was in the Crimea for the drills