The Russian Navy has begun maneuvers in the Baltic Sea a day after NATO. About 40 ships and more than 3500 soldiers are expected to take part. At the same time, further exercises are taking place near Japan.
A day after NATO, the Russian military also began naval maneuvers in the Baltic Sea. The Russian military said up to 40 ships and boats, 25 aircraft and around 3,500 soldiers should be involved in the exercise of the Russian Baltic Sea fleet.
“As part of the maneuver, tasks related to the defense of maritime communications and fleet bases will be trained,” says a corresponding press release. The maneuver should last until June 15th.
Baltic Sea as a training ground
NATO began its annual exercises in the Baltic Sea on Sunday, in which Finland took part for the first time as a new member of the US-led military alliance. According to the US Navy, 50 ships, more than 45 aircraft and around 6,000 soldiers are involved in the maneuver.
However, according to the Alliance, it was not informed about the Russian exercise at the same time. “We have not been informed about the maneuver from the Russian side,” said the commander of the naval forces of the NATO Rapid Reaction Force, Flotilla Admiral Thorsten Marx.
However, Marx emphasized that NATO was not surprised by this. “Of course, we have a very clear idea of what actions might lead to maneuver activities.” The observations of the past few weeks and months would have indicated that the maneuver was taking place.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who followed the NATO exercise from aboard the frigate “Mecklenburg Vorpommern”, did not appear to be concerned about the simultaneous military actions. “It is handled very responsibly by our forces,” said Scholz. Addressing Russia, he said: “It is of course also a sign that we are sending with the maneuver, the exercise – namely that we have the strength to organize the defense of the alliance and the country.”
Russia has already repeatedly rehearsed a war in the Baltic Sea
Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine a good 15 months ago, Moscow has repeatedly rehearsed the event of war in the Baltic Sea. Again and again there are incidents between Russian and NATO aircraft in the Baltic Sea region.
Russia has also started military exercises in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk to the northeast. More than 60 warships and supply ships of the Russian Pacific Fleet are involved here. This maneuver will last until June 20, the Ministry of Defense announced in Moscow.