Russia holds nationwide military drills

Russian Armed Forces have been put on high alert in its western and southern military districts, as well as in the western sector of Arctic, Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

According to the ministry's press service, the landing troops of the Northern Fleet in the Barents Sea, which involve large landing ship Kondopoga, have been alerted at a short notice and left their base in Kola Bay.

Five other ships of the Northern Fleet and aviation groups have joined the drills, searching imaginary enemy's submarines and simulating air defense combat in the Barents Sea.

These groups comprise anti-submarine ship Admiral Levchenko, the Sovremennyy-class destroyer Admiral Ushakov, several dozens of anti-sub aircrafts as well as Mi-8, Mi-24 and Mi-26 helicopters.

Meanwhile, units of the Baltic Fleet, southern military district and Airborne Forces started their movements to the designated areas in the Arctic, according to the ministry.

Airborne troops were relocated using 10 Il-76 transport aircrafts from Central Russia's Ivanovo region and northwestern Pskov region to the Arctic.

Moreover, tactical aviation fleets and anti-aircraft Iskander systems are being relocated to the western enclave of Kaliningrad, while strategic bombers Tu-22M3 will be deployed in Crimea against the background of Wednesday's one-year anniversary of its incorporation into Russia.

In central Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region, over 1,500 tank crew members as well as 500 tanks and armored vehicles participate in the drills.

Also, the troops in Moscow region have been trained to break through enemy's minefields and fortifications.

On Monday, President Vladimir Putin ordered to start the war games which involve 38,000 troops, 3,360 combat vehicles, 41 warships, 15 submarines and 110 aircraft. The drills will continue until Saturday. Endite