MOSCOW, August 20. /TASS/. A sudden combat readiness check has kicked off in Russia’s Central and Eastern Military Districts, long-range and military transport aviation on order by Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Monday.

On the eve of large-scale Vostok-2018 (East-2018) maneuvers in the eastern theater of operations, a set of 16 special drills is underway, Shoigu said.

"Today, at 5:00 a.m. Moscow time, in accordance with the decision by Russia’s supreme commander-in-chief, the military command and the units and formations of the Eastern and Central Military Districts, the Airborne Force, long-range and military transport aviation have switched to implementing measures for going on high alert," the defense minister said.

The basic efforts are focused on preparing units and formations for accomplishing the tasks for the military command and troops to timely arrive at the assembly areas for maneuvers, the defense minsiter said.

"In order to check the issues of the aviation’s readiness and the accomplishment of territorial defense assignments, some military enlistment offices are planned to be involved," the defense minister said.

The snap combat readiness check will run on August 20-25, Shoigu said.

"I order to hold the check on August 20-25. Special attention should be paid to organizing and maintaining troops’ continued and stable command and control," the defense minister stressed.