ROSTOV-ON-DON, March 2. /TASS/. About 3,000 troops have been alerted in military units in Crimea and the North Caucasus in a sudden combat readiness check, the press office of Russia’s Southern Military District told TASS on Thursday.

"Pursuant to a decision by Southern Military District Commander Colonel-General Alexander Dvornikov, military units and formations stationed in Karachay-Cherkessia, the Chechen Republic, Dagestan and Crimea have been alerted in a sudden combat readiness check today," the press office said in a statement.

The drills involve about 3,000 troops and over 1,000 pieces of armament, military and special hardware, including T-72B3 tanks, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles and BTR-82A armored personnel carriers, the press office said.

The troops alerted in the snap check are making marches together with their organic armament to training ranges and will repel a notional enemy’s attack on their way to the designated areas.

Upon their arrival at training ranges, the servicemen will practice tactical moves as part of military units and hold firing exercises, using small arms and grenade launchers, and also the organic armament of tanks and fighting vehicles.

"Special attention during the snap check will be paid to assessing the work of commanders and headquarters to organize troops’ comprehensive and qualitative command and control, interaction and communications between units," the press office said.