Russia launches massive air force exercise with 250 aircraft

It’s common sense that with Russia announcing 4,000 military drills for 2015 — that’s 11 per day — that you cannot keep such a military running on high adrenaline and so intensely for so long without letting the pressure out. This is not to say war is on the horizon, but you normally wouldn’t do such a thing unless you’re preparing for one on a massive scale. Vladimir Putin must make good on his promises to defend Russian interests against the West at all costs, otherwise he’s out. He also wouldn’t be in power now if he didn’t tow the line of his handlers.

 

The Defense Ministry said in a statement Monday the drills will involve air force and air defense units of the Central, Western and Southern Military Districts totaling 12,000 servicemen. Combat aircraft will deploy to temporary bases and air defense systems will be sent to the Ashuluk and Kapustin Yar shooting ranges in southern Russia for training with live ammunition.

Russia conducts test-launch of ballistic missile

Russia today carried out a successful test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, news agencies reported citing the defence ministry, amid a standoff between Moscow and the West over Ukraine.

Interfax and ITAR-TASS quoted the defence ministry as saying a successful test of the RS-12M Topol ICBM had been carried out from Russia’s Kapustin Yar rocket launch site near the Caspian Sea at 2238 IST (1708 GMT).

The Ukraine crisis: Russia may halt (START) strategic weapons inspections, revert to Cold War tactics

This is perfect timing, for Russia that is, since the USA is conveinently suiciding itself militarily by reducing its strategic nuclear deterrance — which also outdated and hasn’t seen anything new in weaponry since the early 90’s/late 80’s.

Russia ratcheted up international tensions over Ukraine by a big notch Saturday, March 8, the day after mobilizing air and coastal defenses for a large-scale month-long drill to prevent the disruption of the May 16 Crimean referendum. The defense ministry in Moscow announced: “Russia is considering halting foreign inspections of its strategic weapons arsenal, including nuclear-capable missiles, in response to “threats” from the United States and NATO over the Ukraine crisis.

Lines of tanks were seen Saturday heading from Russian bases towards Crimea.

A high-ranking defense ministry official in Moscow, who was not named, released this statement to all Russian news agencies: “The unfounded threats towards Russia from the United States and NATO over its policy on Ukraine are seen by us as an unfriendly gesture that allows the declaration of force majeure circumstances.”

Russia reportedly seizes a Ukrainian military base, begins air drills in Crimea

For additional information from a second source, please see the following article: Report: Russian soldiers storm Ukrainian military base in Crimea

Armed men believed to be Russian seized a Ukrainian military base in Crimea Friday, triggering a standoff but no gunfire in the latest incident of escalating tension in the flashpoint peninsula.

The move followed reports earlier in the day that Russia had begun large-scale air defense drills.

Witnesses say Russian troops broke through the gate of a missile defense base with a military vehicle, trying to break into a command post, but no shots were fired, Interfax Ukraine reported.