Strengthening the strategic nuclear component: Putin spoke about the goals of the largest "Ocean-2024" exercises

The maneuvers take place in the waters of the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic Seas

Russia has begun the largest naval exercises in the last three decades. This was stated by Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin, speaking about the strategic command and staff exercises "Ocean-2024" during a teleconference. 15 states are participating as observers in the maneuvers, which will be held from September 10 to 16.

Strategic exercises "Ocean-2024"
Strategic exercises "Ocean-2024"

The exercises involve over 400 warships, submarines, auxiliary fleet vessels, 120 aircraft and helicopters. They involve 90 thousand military personnel, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the FSB, the National Guard, and the FSO. Aircraft and four warships, a supply vessel of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), are also participating in the maneuvers.

The exercises are taking place in the Pacific, Arctic Ocean, Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic Seas.

The Russian Federation must be ready to repel possible military aggression in any direction, including at sea, Putin said. Russia will continue to strengthen its Navy, including its strategic nuclear component.
Vladimir Putin, Supreme Commander-in-Chief

What are the goals of the exercises?

The exercises are designed to test the combat readiness of the command and control bodies and units of the Russian Navy, the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Russian military will practice the use of high-precision weapons and advanced weapons systems. They will also pay attention to strengthening cooperation with friendly countries. According to Putin, these are the first exercises of such magnitude in recent decades.

It is known that more than 30 ships and boats have entered the Baltic Sea, which will perform tasks to combat submarines of a mock enemy and neutralize mines. The crews of the ships will conduct missile firings.

In the waters of the Arctic Ocean, the large anti-submarine ship "Vice-Admiral Kulakov", the large landing ship "Alexander Otrakovsky", the rescue tug "Altai" and the tanker "Sergey Osipov" were spotted. The ships of the Northern Fleet will ensure the safety of coastal infrastructure facilities.

The ships of the Caspian Flotilla, as part of the exercises, will destroy surface and air targets of a mock enemy. The missile ship "Dagestan", the small artillery ships "Astrakhan" and "Volgodonsk", the small missile ships "Veliky Ustyug", "Grad Sviyazhsk" and "Uglich", the base minesweepers "Magomet Gadzhiev" and "German Ugryumov", anti-sabotage boats and raid minesweepers are taking part in them.

On the interaction between Russia and China at the "Ocean-2024" exercises

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, warships of the Russian Navy and the Chinese Navy met in the Peter the Great Bay. The press service of the department added that the ships of the Pacific Fleet and the PLA Navy will practice defending sea communications and areas of maritime economic activity in Primorye.

Norway is monitoring Russian ships

The Norwegian Navy's corvette KNM Storm was monitoring a group of three ships from the Baltic Fleet sailing west of Norway. The Chief of the Operational Headquarters of the Norwegian Armed Forces, Vice Admiral Rune Andersen, said that the Russian Navy had begun the Ocean exercises, which led to increased activity of the Northern and Baltic Fleets and long-range aviation in the region.

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