Russian air force on full alert for Putin's snap check

Russia's Air Defense and Aerospace Forces have been put on full alert as part of an unexpected inspection ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

"Air defense units of the Moscow region and central industrial area were put on highest levels of combat readiness. Air defense teams were put on guard duty in order to accomplish the drill's tasks," said the statement.

The unexpected inspection, beginning on Tuesday, aims to "evaluate their readiness to conduct combat training tasks," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday.

According to the statement, divisions of C-300, S-400 and Carapace-C air defense systems have been deployed.

During the training, the teams have been trained to overcome mined area, repel attacks of reconnaissance and sabotage groups, and traverse areas of nearly impassable terrain. Endi