YAROSLAVL (Sputnik) — Putin said that the "number of drills and exercises has multiplied, including unannounced inspections, which from time to time cause concern of our partners for some reason."
"Our army does not threaten anybody. I would like to stress this once again, so that everyone hears, not just those sitting here," Putin told the employees of the Autodiesel engine plant in the Russian city of Yaroslavl.
The president added that it was necessarily for Russia, the world's largest country, to ensure its own security.
According to Putin, the army "should be compact, but very efficient, so we will continue structural reform," while attention will continue to be given to intelligence, communication systems, and advanced high-precision and high-tech weaponry.
