ASTRAKHAN. Aug 8 (Interfax-AVN) - The naval exercises in the Caspian Sea are aimed at protecting Russia's interests from tangible threats, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told the press upon his arrival in Astrakhan on Thursday.
"Federal Security Service Director Konstantin Totsky and I are here on presidential orders to supervise the main phase of the exercises, which involve Russia's entire military organism," he said.
"Today the Caspian flotilla commander will brief us, and tomorrow we will fly to Kaspiysk and Makhachkala, where the main phase of the exercises will be held," Ivanov said.
"Preparations for the exercises started long ago. We have been mounting our forces here, including those of the Caspian Flotilla," the minister said.
A substantial infrastructure for units of both the Armed Forces and border guard troops has been developed in the region, he added.