Putin scrambles thousands of troops and hundreds of warplanes across south-west Russia in large-scale military drills amid growing tensions with the West

Tuesday, February 9, 2016
By Paul Martin

Vladimir Putin has scrambled 8,500 troops, 200 warplanes and 50 ships
His Southern Military District is undergoing drills to test its ‘readiness’
It comes Russia’s relations with the West remain low over Syria dispute
In recent years he has reasserted his country’s massive military might
Putin annexed the Crimea in 2014 and supported rebels in eastern Ukraine

By COREY CHARLTON
DailyMail.com
9 February 2016

Vladimir Putin has put thousands of troops, warplanes and battleships on high alert in a series of military drills designed to test his military’s mobility amid growing tensions with the West.

The war games in south-west Russia will include bombing runs and troop deployments, which the Kremlin says will test its military’s ability to respond to external threats.

It comes as Western tensions with Russia remain at a low following its annexation of Crimea in 2014, its clandestine support for rebel forces in eastern Ukraine, and its bombing of Syria.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that military units were put on combat alert early Monday, marking the launch of the exercise that involves troops of the Southern Military District.

The district includes troops stationed in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as well as forces in the North Caucasus and southwestern regions near the border with Ukraine.

Shoigu said the maneuvers will also engage airborne troops and military transport aviation, as well as the navy.

He noted that the drills are intended to check the troops’ ability to respond to extremist threats and other challenges.

According to Shoigu, who spoke at a meeting with the top military brass, the war games would include redeployment of air force units to advance air bases and bombing runs at shooting ranges.

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