Russia launches large-scale military drills in Pacific, Arctic, Baltic and Caspian
On Wednesday, July 23, Russia kicked off large-scale naval exercises involving over 150 ships and 15,000 troops in the Pacific and Arctic oceans, as well as the Baltic and Caspian seas
The Russian Defense Ministry announced the drills.
They named the exercise “July Storm.” It will run from July 23 to 27 under the command of Russian Navy chief Alexander Moiseyev.
According to the Defense Ministry, the drills aim to test how ready fleet and flotilla groups are to handle “non-standard operational tasks,” use long-range weapons, and deploy newer technologies, including unmanned systems.
“At sea, ship crews will practice moving into combat zones, carrying out anti-submarine missions, protecting base areas and zones of economic activity, repelling attacks from enemy aircraft, drones, and unmanned boats, ensuring safe navigation, and striking enemy targets and ship groups,” the ministry said.
The exercises include over 150 warships and support vessels, 120 aircraft, 10 coastal missile systems, 950 military and special vehicles, and more than 15,000 personnel.
- On October 23, 2024, the Belarusian Defense Ministry announced that it will hold the joint Zapad 2025 drills with Russia. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said NATO is ready to respond to the joint Russian-Belarusian exercises.
- Meanwhile, the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, warned that the large-scale drills in Belarus involving Russian troops this fall may be part of preparations for a new offensive against Ukraine.
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