Norway’s Massive Military Drills Near Russian Border Underway

The drills, the largest to take place in the area in decades, include some 5,000 personnel from all of the military branches.

MURMANSK (Sputnik) – Norway's Joint Viking military drill is underway near the Russian border in Norway's northernmost Finnmark region, bordering Russia's Murmansk.

The first phase of a massive logistics operation is nearly complete, Norway's Armed Forces said in a statement Tuesday.

Equipment and personnel has been moved to the western regions of Finnmark for a week, and will now be transported to practice ranges at harbors and airports, according to the statement. "Most of the transportation has gone according to plan, but the weather has been challenging. Strong winds have created some problems, both for ships and planes."

Norway, alongside NATO, suspended all military cooperation with Russia last year, following Crimea's reunification with Russia. The alliance has also accused Russia of meddling in the internal Ukrainian conflict, claims Moscow has repeatedly denied.