OREANDA-NEWS.    Observing Western and Central Military District forces exercises. With Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (left) and Head of General Staff Combat Training Directorate Ivan Buvaltsev.

The President was accompanied by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Commander of the Western Military District Anatoly Sidorov and Head of General Staff Combat Training Directorate Ivan Buvaltsev.

The exercises, which began on February 26, are being conducted as part of a snap inspection of combat readiness of Western and Central Military District forces and a number of armed forces’ branches.