Russia to Conduct All-Encompassing Combat Readiness Checks - Putin

All types of troops from all Russian military districts will participate in snap combat readiness checks this year.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – This year’s snap combat readiness checks will involve all types of troops from all Russian military districts, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday:

“This year’s forthcoming large-scale checks will encompass all military districts and types of troops.”

Over 3,500 military drills were held in Russia in 2015, with many large-scale drills yet to be conducted, Putin added.

In the latest snap drills, Northern Fleet combat readiness, along with units of the Western, Southern and Eastern Military Districts, was tested.

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.

Despite the fact that Russia announced its plans to hold large-scale drills in 2015 well in advance, the West expressed concern over the exercises. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that “sudden, unpredictable and surprise military maneuvers contribute to instability.”