MOSCOW (Realist English). Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to the Supreme Commander Vladimir Putin on the progress of military exercises of the Pacific Fleet.
“The forces and troops participating in the inspection have been put on full combat readiness, and they have started performing combat training tasks with the established restrictions. Control firing and tactical exercises are conducted with them, issues of interaction between various services being worked out.
The on duty anti-submarine forces conducted searches for submarines on the approaches to Peter the Great Bay and the Avacha Bay. Naval aviation of the Pacific Fleet has been dispersed at operational airfields. The aircraft of the long—range aviation Command have been relocated to advanced airfields,” the minister said.
Shoigu noted that the issues of ensuring the combat stability of strategic missile submarines and their readiness for the use of weapons have been worked out:
“A tactical air defense exercise has been launched. To designate the enemy, naval aviation aircraft are involved.”
Putin stressed that today Russia has clear priorities for the use of the army, and first of all “it concerns the Ukrainian direction and everything related to the protection of our people in the Donbas, in other new territories”:
“But the tasks of fleet development, including in the Pacific Theater, have not been canceled or removed, and therefore I ask you to continue this work, unconditionally, to pay attention also to the development and preparation of similar events in other fleets.”
The surprise inspection of the Pacific Fleet has been carried out since April 14. It involved over 25 thousand military personnel, 167 warships and support vessels, including 12 submarines, 89 aircraft and helicopters.
