Russia Notifies OSCE Members of Snap Air Defense Drills - Defense Ministry

Russia has notified the members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe about the start of snap drills to inspect combat readiness of air and air defense units of the Central Military District, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The four-day drills, ordered by President Vladimir Putin, began at 01.00 p.m. Moscow time (10:00 GMT) on Monday. The drills involve 12,000 personnel, up to 250 aircraft and helicopters, 689 pieces of various military hardware.

"On May 25, 2015, Russia notified all countries-signatories of the 2011 Vienna document on confidence and security building measures about holding on May 25-28 a snap inspection of combat readiness of air and air defense units of the Central Military District ahead of the Center-2015 strategic military exercises," Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said.

Antonov added that Moscow has shared this information with OSCE members "as a gesture of good will."