Russia announced on Thursday that its immediate fleet exercises in the Pacific were over, reiterating that its forces were prepared to fend off “aggression” in the event of a maritime battle.
In light of ongoing tensions with the West over Ukraine, Russia’s Pacific Fleet, which is based in the port city of Vladivostok, reportedly began conducting surprise combat maneuvers last week, according to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
President Vladimir Putin on Monday said a “surprise inspection” had taken place “at a very high level”.
On Thursday, the defence ministry said the exercises had been completed and the forces were returning to their bases.
“Snap drills confirmed the high readiness of the troops (forces) of the Pacific Fleet to solve the problems of repelling the aggression of a potential enemy from the direction of ocean and sea,” the ministry said in a statement.
Forces trained hunting for and destroying submarines, “repelling large-scale rocket and aviation attacks,” and unleashing rockets, torpedoes, and artillery fire at seaborne and ground targets during the drills in the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Bering Sea.
In order to simulate attacks on hostile objectives, strategic missile ships and long-range bombers went to a “central part of the Pacific Ocean”.
According to Moscow, S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, Pantsir-S missile and artillery systems, and radar stations were used to successfully repel a fake enemy air strike.
Over 25,000 Russian military personnel, 167 warships and support vessels, including 12 submarines, participated in the exercises in the Pacific.
