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OSCE member-states informed of Russia's Northern Fleet drills — deputy defense minister

The drills involve 38,000 troops, 3,360 pieces of equipment, more than 55 warships and submarines and 110 aircraft and helicopters
Airborne troops participating in  surprise combat readiness check  TASS/Vladimir Smirnov
Airborne troops participating in surprise combat readiness check
© TASS/Vladimir Smirnov

MOSCOW, March 17. /TASS/. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) member-states were informed in a ‘gesture of good will’ on the snap combat readiness drills of the Northern Fleet in the Arctic region, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters on Tuesday.

"The number of the troops and military equipment involved in the exercises do not exceed the levels that fall within the Vienna document of 2011 and are subject to advanced notification," Antonov stressed.

The surprise combat readiness check of the Northern Fleet, a number of units of the western military region and airborne troops began on Monday and will last until March 21.

The drills involve 38,000 troops, 3,360 pieces of equipment, more than 55 warships and submarines and 110 aircraft and helicopters. The goal is to evaluate the capability of the Northern Fleet to ensure Russia’s military security in the Arctic region.