Russia's Western Military District said Tuesday that 25 military aircraft crews would be dispatched to the Arctic to participate in tactical exercises, Interfax reported.
The maneuvers are meant to rehearse the "protection of air borders, the interception of aerial targets and air strikes," and gauge the capabilities of air attack and air defense systems, according to comments by a military district spokesperson carried by Interfax.
The exercises will run through the end of the week, Interfax reported.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 servicemen from the Baltic fleet took part in military drills in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on Tuesday, TASS reported.
Last week, the Defense Ministry said the country had begun constructing new military bases in the Arctic. The announcement was followed by the arrival of the country's northern naval fleet in the region, where it conducted military drills.
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