Support The Moscow Times!

Russia Stages Snap Military Drills in Kaliningrad

Vladimir Putin ordered snap military drills in Kaliningrad region.

President Vladimir Putin ordered snap military drills in Russia's westernmost Kaliningrad region earlier this month, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

The drills, which mobilized 9,000 soldiers and more than 55 naval ships, were carried out to test the military's combat readiness in Kaliningrad, an exclave that borders NATO members Lithuania and Poland.

The drills were carried out between Dec. 5-10.

"The exercise involved units of missile troops, artillery, mechanized infantry, airborne troops, marine forces, units of reconnaissance, communications, logistics, as well as combat and military transport aircraft, helicopters and ships of the Baltic Fleet," Tass news agency said, citing the Armed Forces General Staff.

Russia has carried out numerous snap military drills since ties with the West plummeted in the crisis over Ukraine and Moscow has criticized what it called a build-up of NATO forces near Russia's borders.

Kiev and the West say some of those exercises carried out in western Russia near the border with Ukraine were used to increase pressure on Kiev and show support for pro-Russian separatists who took up arms in east Ukraine in April.

The report said all units of the Armed Forces used in the exercises had returned to their bases.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more