MOSCOW. June 5 (Interfax) - Around 40 ships, 25 aircraft and more than 3,500 troops will train in the Baltic Sea and Russia's Kaliningrad region on June 5-15, the Russian Baltic Fleet's press service said on Monday.
"As the exercise began, the Baltic Fleet's naval tactical groups departed from their bases and deployed to designated areas of the Baltic Sea for training missions," it said.
The drills involve up to 40 surface ships, boats and logistics vessels, more than 3,500 troops, up to 25 aircraft, and up to 500 pieces of special and combat hardware, it said.
"The exercise practices security and defense of maritime communications and fleet bases," the press service said.
The exercise aims to strengthen the readiness of the fleet's command, "to improve interaction and the operating skills of the fleet's ship crews and coastal forces at sea and on the ground, and to practice troop control by the command and staffs," it said.
"Before the exercise, the Baltic Fleet held a series of special drills in every area of support, and practiced bringing fleet forces and hardware to a state of high alert," the press service said.
The exercise supervised by Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Vladimir Vorobyov will take place in the Baltic Sea and the Kaliningrad region on June 5-15, in accordance with the 2023 training plan, it said.
Earlier on Monday, the Russian Pacific Fleet reported the beginning of a major exercise with more than 60 ships and vessels and more than 11,000 troops in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk.