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Russian Military Begins Surprise Inspections for 'Combat Readiness'

President Vladimir Putin (R) and Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu

Russia's military forces are to begin surprise inspections to test their combat readiness, the TASS news agency reported Tuesday.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the inspections had been initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The drills will affect foreign attaches and military forces across the country and will continue until June 22, TASS reported.

“The inspections are planned to check the ability of the military to promptly mobilize special forces units and deploy them to areas affected by a man-made or natural disaster,” Shoigu said.

Other nations have been notified about the drills in accordance with the 2011 Vienna Document, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov. The document aims to build trust between European countries by requiring governments to disclose where troops are stationed and to inform each other of any potentially unusual military activity.

The inspections will also pay special attention to military's equipment stocks and reserves, TASS reported.  

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