Military High Alert in Russia

Russian Central Military District Troops Put on Full Combat Alert

The Central Military District's troops, aviation and airborne troops were put on full combat alert at 06:30 GMT.

Sputnik,

7 September, 2015

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered snap inspections of the country’s Central Military District, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Monday.

“In accordance with [Putin’s] order, the district’s troops, parts of the aviation forces of other military districts, the air-borne troops and military transportation aviation has been put on ‘Full Military Readiness’ beginning at 9:30 a.m. Moscow time [06:30 GMT],” Shoigu said during a high level Defense Ministry meeting.

During the inspections, the troops will carry out various drills to test their combat readiness.

The checks will also assess the airborne forces' readiness for long-distance missions and landing in unfamiliar terrain, Shoigu added.

Russia Begins Unprecedentedly Large Mass Destruction Defense Drills

The Central Military District is actively preparing for the strategic Center-2015 exercises, to be held later in September. The drills will include a number of command and staff training sessions, as well as practicing the full deployment of forces during special exercises.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in December that Russia planned at least 4,000 drills for 2015.