(Dan Tri) – Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the military’s performance in a large-scale naval exercise involving the entire Pacific Fleet.
Russian nuclear submarines participate in exercises of the Pacific Fleet near Vladivostok on April 14 (Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense).
Speaking during a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on April 17, the Russian leader praised this exercise as a significant display of force, amid rising tensions between Russia and the West.
President Putin evaluated this as an impressive performance by the navy and emphasized that similar exercises should be organized in other areas.
According to sources, at the meeting, Minister Shoigu reported to President Putin that the exercise began on April 14 with the participation of 167 warships, including 12 submarines, 89 warplanes.
As part of the exercise, Russia’s nuclear-capable long-range strategic bombers `flew over the central Pacific to simulate strikes against
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the entire Russian Pacific Fleet was placed on high alert on April 14 for these lightning exercises.
In particular, areas in the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk, Peter the Great Bay and Avacha Bay on the southeastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula are completely closed during this time so that forces can practice launching torpedoes and missiles.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the exercise was intended to `test the combat readiness of the Pacific Fleet`.
The Russian military has concentrated most of its forces in Ukraine, but continues to conduct regular exercises across Russia to train forces and demonstrate combat readiness.
The Pacific Fleet exercise took place just before Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu arrived in Russia on April 16 and met with President Putin, during which the leader praised the close relationship between Moscow and Moscow.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said that Mr. Ly’s talks with Mr. Shoigu focused on `prospects of bilateral defense cooperation and urgent issues of regional and global security.`
On April 14, Mr. Shoigu noted that the scenario for the exercise was to practice combat readiness against a landing on Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands.
Japan also claims sovereignty over the Kuril Islands, which Tokyo calls the Northern Territories.
Last year, Russia announced the suspension of peace negotiations with Japan to protest Tokyo’s sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine issue.
Russia has increased its military presence on the islands in recent years, deploying advanced fighter jets, anti-ship missiles and air defense systems there.