Seven hundred Russian servicemen, with warships and anti-missile defence units, have just ended military exercises in the Baltic Sea, the largest for several years.
Patrol vessels follow landing ships with armed personnel carriers on board, and assault aircraft cover the landing by opening fire on the surrounding area as the ships approach the shore. Their goal is to take the beach-head. The task for the commanders was to co-ordinate actions as marines and paratroopers land simultaneously. Two submarines were to prevent the landing operation. Tthe commanders say the exercises were a success. “They are really well prepared – the landing was very well co-ordinated, the task was completed and I see great progress,” Aleksandr Lukin, head of Russian military training, commented. The Russian marines are slated to take part in NATO exercises.