Russian Army to Exercise Retaliatory Missile Strikes at 'Enemy' in East

Russia's aviation, navy, missile and artillery units will exercise retaliatory missile and air strikes on a simulated enemy during drills in the country's east, the press service of Russia's Eastern Military District said Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — District spokesperson Colonel Alexander Gordeev said the military drills would involve "more than 20,000 troops and up to 7,000 units of weapons, military and special equipment that will perform practical tasks in seven regions of [Russia's] Transbaikal and the Far East."

At the final stage of the drills retaliatory missile and air strikes will be conducted involving bombers, assault and army aviation of the district, Pacific Fleet ships, rocket and artillery units, as well as electronic warfare, the colonel said.

On Thursday, Russian Defense Ministry said training sessions with a unique anti-aircraft missile system S-300V4 would be held in the training centers of Russian cities of Yeysk and Orenburg.

Following the tests, more than 200 specialists will conduct live firing on the range in Russia's Astrakhan Region.

Earlier this week, the Eastern Military District announced that more than ten aircraft, including helicopters, had taken part in simulated attacks by an "enemy" near the Chinese border.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced plans to conduct at least 4,000 military exercises throughout the country in 2015.