OREANDA-NEWS. Vladimir Putin watched the final phase of large-scale military exercises involving Eastern and Central Military District forces at the 247th inter-forces Tsugol test ground in Trans-Baikal Territory, and also made a helicopter flight over the area where the exercises were underway.

The combat-readiness inspection began on July 13. Forces and units from the Central and Eastern Military Districts, the Pacific Fleet, and Air Force long-range, military transport, fighter, bomber and army aviation units took part in the exercises, which involved carrying out training combat missions at 17 test grounds and on board Pacific Fleet ships in the Okhotsk Sea and Sea of Japan.

The exercises’ main aim was to test forces’ preparedness for carrying out combat missions and assess the servicemen’s performance, technical preparedness and level of supply of arms and equipment in the different units.

Earlier, Mr Putin watched exercises underway at the Uspenovsky test ground in Sakhalin Region.