Russia Launches Military Drills Simultaneously with NATO's Maneuvers

A soldier in an armored fighting vehicle takes part in the multi-national military Exercise Saber Strike 2014 in Adazi, Latvia, 09 June 2014. Photo by EPA/VALDA KALNINA.

Russian Baltic Fleet, Airborne Troops and Air Force have started drills in the Kaliningrad Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said, Tuesday.

The military exercise is taking place at the same time as the international drills Saber Strike 2014 and BALTOPS 2014 that started in Europe.

"The number the Russian Defense Ministry's troops and equipment involved is equatable with the number of personnel, armaments and military hardware employed in border exercises being conducted by NATO countries," Russian Defense Ministry stated, as quoted by Itar-Tass.

Russian maneuvers involve vessel groups, Airborne Troops and Marine Corps units, Air Force formations, Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers, Mil Mi-24 helicopters and Tupolev Tu-22M3 bombers.

NATO drills Saber Strike 2014 take place on the territory of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia from June 9 to June 20, and BALTOPS 2014 – in the Baltic Sea from June 6 to 21.

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