Snap check begins in Russian Central Military District

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered a snap inspection of the country's Central Military District troops, the Defense Ministry said.

"The district troops, as well as part of aviation forces of other military districts, airborne forces and military-transport aviation troops are put on full combat alert on 9:30 Moscow time (0630 GMT)," Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a military meeting.

The inspection to end on Sep. 12 is aimed at testing the combat readiness of troops and the coordination work of various ministries and agencies in the wartime, according to an online report released by the Defense Ministry.

The ministry added that a new organizational structure of the district will also be testified on its teamwork and interaction with other federal and regional authorities.

The exercise will also involve military drills of ground and airborne troops, Shoigu said.

"The capabilities of airborne forces would be evaluated on tasks like long-distance transfer and landing in unfamiliar zones," he said.

The Central Military District is Russia's biggest one occupying more than 40 percent of the country's territory. With its headquarters in Yekaterinburg, the district unites troops stationed in regions along the Volga River, around the Ural Mountains and in Siberia, as well as air forces in a military base in Tajikistan. Endi