Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a country-wide snap exercise, on June 14, which lasted until June 22, though some units continued to hold maneuvers the following day (Mil.ru, June 14; RIA Novosti, June 23). Various elements of the exercise took place in all four Russian military districts—West, South, Central and East (see EDM, June 21, 27)—but for an unknown reason, it did not involve the operational-strategic command North, or the Northern Fleet. This conspicuous absence of Arctic-facing units is somewhat surprising as, according to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the snap inspection was supposed to devote special attention to “the organization …read more
Source: The Jamestown Foundation