Azernews.Az

By Rashid Shirinov

The Russian Armed Forces started sudden check of combat readiness on August 25. The surprise check in the Southern, Western and Central military districts, the Northern Fleet and the Aerospace Force and Airborne Troops is part of preparations for the Kavkaz-2016 exercise due in September, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

The surprise check is being held under a general plan for preparations for the strategic command and staff exercise Kavkaz-2016. Drills will be held at ground test sites and also in the Black and Caspian seas, TASS reported with reference to the ministry.

The surprise combat readiness check will end on August 31.

Currently, the participating troops are getting the equipment, weapons and ammunition, taking military vehicles to the column formation areas and get the equipment ready for marches to railway stations and airdromes.

The Kavkaz-2016 exercise will be held in the Southern, North Caucasus and Crimean federal districts. Earlier, preparations for the Kavkaz-2016 exercise were held in the Southern Military District, including the Volgograd Region, the Krasnodar Territory, North Ossetia and Crimea with 2,500 troops and 350 pieces of military equipment taking part.

Russia has the world’s second most powerful military, according to the annual ranking made by Global Firepower, an analytical website exploring the military power of different countries. Having an active personnel of more than 3 million people, the Russian Armed Forces possess over 15,000 tanks, 3,500 aircraft, and more than 1,200 helicopters.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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