Contents tagged with Russian military exercises

  • Polish defense minister: Russia preparing for offensive operations

    The recent Zapad 2017 large-scale Russian-Belarusian military exercises are evidence that Russia is preparing for offensive operations, said Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz, as reported by Ukrinform.

    “The Zapad 2017 exercises ended two months ago. They were held in the space between the Arctic Ocean and the Black Sea, and even involved the launches of Iskander ballistic missiles, which can carry nuclear warheads. The Russians were not preparing for defense, but for aggression,” …

  • Russia fires 4 ballistic missiles during large-scale exercises in the north

    Russia conducted large-scale military exercises involving nuclear forces, launching four ballistic missiles.

    "The tasks of the training have been fulfilled and all educational goals have been successfully met," the Russian Ministry of Defense noted.

    According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region, the Topol intercontinental ballistic missile was launched. It struck a practice target at the Kura Missile Test Range in Kamchatka.

    Two missiles …

  • NATO to discuss with Russia the true number of troops in Zapad-2017 exercises

    The true number of Russian Army personnel that were involved in the recent Zapad-2017 exercises in Belarus will be discussed during the next NATO-Russia meeting, reported  the German newspaper Welt, citing its sources in the headquarters of the Alliance.

    “We will very clearly say that we are thinking about such actions,” the newspaper quotes the diplomat as saying.

    The Alliance has serious reasons to believe that it wasn’t 12,700 soldiers that took part in the exercises – the number that …

  • Media: NATO prepares report accusing Russia of lying about Zapad-2017 military exercise

    NATO experts analyzed satellite images of the Zapad 2017 exercises and found tens of thousands of soldiers, while Russia assured that fewer than 13,000 military men participated in the maneuvers, as reported by Die Welt, citing sources in NATO.

    Exercises with military formations exceeding 13,000 people require the participation of observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), however, they were not present at the maneuvers.

    According to Die Welt, NATO is going …

  • Ministry of Defense of Ukraine: Six thousand Russian troops still in Belarus after Zapad 2017 Exercises

    About six thousand Russian soldiers who took part in joint military maneuvers of the Zapad 2017 exercises are still in Belarus, stated Andrei Lysenko, press secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on ATO issues, according to news agency UNN.

    “A combination of Russian and Belarusian forces, totaling about 12,000 troops, was in Belarus. Of these, 5,800 were from Russia. The military understands that the headquarters and other units remain in the territory of Belarus, and international …

  • Russian Black Sea Fleet conducts coastal missile exercises in Crimea

     

    On October 23rd, the Black Sea Fleet in the annexed Crimea conducted missile strikes on a hypothetical enemy’s ships using the Bastion and Bal missile systems, as reported by the press service of the Defense Ministry of Russia.

    The report notes that the deployment of the missile systems was in accordance with the plan for combat training of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

    “As part of the exercises, the personnel executed the procedures for preparation and going to the position area, bringing …

  • USA: Number of troops participating in Zapad-2017 military exercises was more than declared by Russia

    Washington is not afraid of a possible build-up of the Russian military presence at the borders of NATO countries after the Zapad 2017 exercises, as indicated by the Permanent Representative of the United States to NATO, Kay Bailey Hutchison, in response to questions from The Washington Post.

    "I cannot say for sure, but our people have been closely watching and they have no fears," the diplomat said. She added that the exercises were a "big show." "We watched it as much as we could," …

  • Russia conducts exercises of military aviation in the annexed Crimea

    Flight crews of Su-30SM multi-role fighter planes of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia have executed sea target bombings, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry reported. A small-sized ship was used as a target for naval aviators to fulfill the task of destroying the mock enemy.

    "The results of direct hits are confirmed by telemetry and visually from unmanned aerial vehicles. To ensure the safety of combat exercises, more than 20 warships and auxiliary vessels, as well as aircraft of …

  • Russia conducts test launches of Kalibr missiles off the coast of Crimea

    The submarines “Rostov-on-Don” and “Novorossiysk” from the Russian Black Sea Fleet in annexed Crimea fired Kalibr missiles at ground and above-water targets in the Opuk training area in Black Sea waters, the Russian Defense Ministry press service reported.

    “The missiles were fired from a submerged position. During the firing, two practice Kalibr missiles were used. In order to ensure the security of the military exercises and close off the dangerous region, more than 20 combat ships and …

  • Russia conducts exercises of its missile forces in North Ossetia and Stavropol Krai

    One of the Southern Military District’s (SMD) missile units, equipped with Iskander missiles, has been put on high readiness state in order to carry out command and staff exercises in Stavropol Krai, SMD spokesperson Vadim Astafyev announced.

    “One of the SMD’s missile units, deployed in North Ossetia, has been placed on alert for training purposes, in order to carry out command and staff exercises at the Sernovodsk training ground in Stavropol Krai,” he said.

    According to him, the quick …