Large-scale exercises have started in the Arctic, in which about 8 thousand military personnel, 800 units of combat and special equipment, as well as up to 50 ships and vessels will take part.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, units of land and coastal troops, as well as air defense troops of the Northern Fleet moved to the training grounds in the Murmansk region as part of an exercise with the Arctic expeditionary group. The maneuvers are conducted under the leadership of the commander of the Northern Fleet of the Hero of Russia, Admiral Alexander Moiseev. The ministry said that more than 45 tanks, 460 armored combat vehicles, up to 240 guns, mortars and multiple rocket launchers, about 120 aircraft will be involved in the exercises.
The military department noted that the maneuvers will involve the S-300 and S-400 air defense systems, as well as the Pantsir S-1 anti-aircraft missile and gun systems. Within the framework of the exercises, issues of ensuring the safety of maritime communications and areas of Russia's maritime economic activity on the Northern Sea Route will be worked out.
Also, during the exercises, the tasks of conducting joint special operations to block and destroy terrorists will be worked out.
"At one of the stages of the exercise of the force (troops) The Northern Fleet will conduct practical actions to protect the communications of the Northern Sea Route, protect and defend the garrisons of the fleet, study possible areas of combat operations and conditions for the use of diverse fleet forces in the western and eastern Arctic sea zones, " the Defense Ministry said.
Practical actions of the Northern Fleet will take place in the waters of the Barents, Kara, Chukchi and East Siberian Seas, the Laptev Sea, in the area of the Novosibirsk Islands, the archipelago of France-Joseph Land.
Alexander Stepanov