War in Ukraine: 300 ships, 20,000 sailors… what are the major exercises launched by Russia this Tuesday ?

Des exercices militaires pour la marine russe. ILLUSTRATION MAXPPP – Arnaud Beinat

The Russian Navy began exercises involving the bulk of its fleet as planned on Tuesday, July 30, the Defense Ministry announced.

The exercises, involving some 300 ships and 20,000 sailors, are taking place in the Pacific and Arctic oceans as well as the Baltic and Caspian seas.

They are aimed at testing the Russian Navy's readiness and combat capability at all levels, the ministry said in a statement.

Tactical nuclear tests

These exercises will notably test anti-aircraft missiles, artillery and anti-submarine warfare, it added. Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has conducted numerous military exercises, including joint ones with countries including China and South Africa.

It has also conducted tactical nuclear missile tests over the past two months, while stepping up joint training with Belarus, a Moscow ally whose territory was used to launch the offensive toward Kyiv in 2022.