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Russian interior troops exercise begins in 6 federal districts, including Crimea

The exercise is aimed at drilling the use of troops in case of aggravation of the situation in Russian regions to cope with new threats to the state’s internal security, spokesman for the troops says

MOSCOW, April 2. /TASS/. Large-scale strategic exercise of Russia’s Interior Troops codenamed Zaslon-2015 has been launched in 6 federal districts, including Crimea, spokesman for the troops Vasily Panchenkov told TASS on Thursday.

He said that the exercise is conducted in the period from April 2 to 10 under the command of First Deputy Interior Minister — Commander of Interior Troops Colonel General Viktor Zolotov.

"The exercise is aimed at drilling the use of troops (forces) in case of aggravation of the situation in Russian regions to cope with new threats to the state’s internal security that is in line with the federal law on interior troops," he said.

According to the spokesman, the strategic exercise is underway in the North-Western, Central, Volga, North Caucasus, Southern and Crimean Federal Districts. The manoeuvres involve some 40,000 troops and about 1,500 military and special equipment units.

He said that the interior troops have a number of tasks under the law, including participation in joint operations with the police in ensuring public law and order, combating terrorism, guarding of important state facilities and special cargoes and participation in the Russian territorial defence.