Sudden combat readiness inspection begins in Russia

A sudden combat readiness inspection began in the Russian Armed Forces at 07:00 am on Tuesday by the decision of country’s supreme commander-in-chief, the Russian Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu said.

"Another surprise inspection was launched at 07:00 am today to check the troops’ combat and mobilization readiness in accordance with the decision of the supreme commander-in-chief. The inspection will be carried out in a number of equipment storage bases, as well as separate bodies of military administration," Shoigu said.

"At the final stage of the inspection it is planned to check the ability of military districts to promptly organize team building of the special force units to deploy them to the areas of man-made and natural disasters", TASS cited Shoigu as saying.

According to him, during the drills it is necessary "to ensure strict compliance with the safety requirements, weapons and ammunition security, exclude damage to state property, as well as to prevent negative impact on the environment."

According to Shoigu, the inspection will last until June 22.

The minister said "along with the troops’ training for their missions in armed conflicts of varying intensity and in crisis situations, it is necessary to pay special attention to the mobilization component of the Armed Forces, the status of the troop’s reserve components and weapons and military equipment stock.

The minister ordered  to inform foreign military attaches about the snap check. He also ordered to establish four working groups and organize their work in united strategic commands and "to the Deputy Defense Minister, Army General Dmitry Bulgakov, to personally carry out monitoring of snap checks on the spot."