Russia's air forces hold mass drills

The Russian Air Forces have started mass drills in the Astrakhan Region. Servicemen from the Western and Central military districts are taking part in the war games. The Commander of the Russian Air Forces, Lieutenant-General Viktor Bondarev, is in charge of the drills.

Some 6500 servicemen, 800 items of ground machinery and 100 air vessels are taking part in the drills.

S-300 missile complexes are also been used during the war games.

The commander stresses that the drills are not aimed at preparing for a military operation in Ukraine.

'The aim of these war games is to prepare for air defense in the northern part of the country. The drills have nothing to do with Ukraine," the military official said.