Russia's Navy Engages in Extensive Arctic and Pacific Exercises

Russia's navy has initiated extensive exercises in the Arctic, Pacific, Baltic, and Caspian regions, featuring 300 ships and 20,000 personnel. The drills aim to evaluate readiness and capabilities across all levels, following the Black Sea fleet's recent struggles amid Ukraine conflict. Russia's increasing military activities include collaborations with China and Belarus.

Russia's navy began planned exercises involving most of its fleet in the Arctic and Pacific oceans as well as the Baltic and Caspian seas, the defence ministry said on Tuesday. Russia is considered by most military analysts to have the world's third most powerful navy after those of the United States and China, and it boasts a significant ballistic-missile nuclear submarine fleet.

The Russian drills include 20,000 personnel and 300 ships. They will test the readiness and capabilities of the navy at all levels, the ministry said. The drills will feature over 300 combat exercises, including the use of anti-aircraft missiles, artillery, anti-submarine weapons, and passive interference.

'Units and formations of the Russian Navy have begun conducting planned exercises in the operational zones of the Northern, Pacific and Baltic Fleets, as well as in the area of responsibility of the Caspian Flotilla,' the ministry stated. 'The main purpose of the exercises is to check the actions of the military authorities of the navy at all levels, as well as the readiness of the crews of ships, units of naval aviation, and coastal troops of the Russian navy to perform tasks.'

About 300 surface ships and boats, submarines, and support vessels, as well as 50 aircraft and over 200 units of military equipment, will be involved in the combat training, the ministry said. Since President Vladimir Putin sent thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, Russia's Black Sea fleet - the only fleet not participating in these drills - has struggled to adapt to modern drone warfare, leading to the replacement of the navy chief earlier this year.

At Russian navy day celebrations on Sunday, Putin warned the United States that deploying longer-range missiles in Germany would prompt Russia to station similar missiles within striking distance of the West. Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has conducted numerous military exercises independently or with countries such as China and South Africa.

In the past two months, Russia has also conducted mobile nuclear missile launcher and tactical nuclear weapons deployment exercises. It has increased military training with Belarus, conducting a series of comprehensive drills. (Writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Michael Perry, and Miral Fahmy)

(With inputs from agencies.)