Snap Combat Readiness Drills Launched in Arctic Unit in Eastern Russia

Russia checked the combat readiness of its Eastern Military District with the participation of Arctic units.

MOSCOW, April 16 (Sputnik) – Snap combat readiness drills were held with Arctic units in Russia’s Eastern Military District, the district’s press secretary said Thursday.

“By order of the troop commander of the Eastern Military District Gen.Col. Sergei Surovikin, a snap readiness drill for the region’s units was held today on Wrangel Island and Cape Otto Schmidt,” Col. Alexander Gordeyev said.

Last week, Russian Defense Ministry said Russian paratroopers successfully landed on a drifting ice block in the Arctic Ocean for the first time in history.

In the latest snap drills, in March, some 76,000 servicemen, 65 warships, 15 submarines, 16 auxiliary ships, and over 10,000 combat and support vehicles took part in the exercises of the Northern Fleet, intended to test Russia's defense capability in the Arctic.

Bolstering Russia’s presence in the Arctic region is a part of the country’s military strategy through 2020. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in late 2014 that Russia is not planning to militarize the Arctic, but is taking necessary measures to ensure its security in the region.