Russia starts major combat readiness check

The inspection will allow to assess how three military districts would react to crises in the Russian southwest.

Snap combat readiness checks will take place on August 25-31 in Russia's Southern, Western and Central military districts, as well as the Northern Fleet, Aerospace Forces and Airborne Troops, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

"Today, another unannounced inspection begun in accordance with a decision by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Forces of the Southern [military district], as well as parts of the forces of the Western and Central military districts, the Northern Fleet, the High Command of the Aerospace Forces, the command of the Airborne Troops are set on full combat readiness starting 7:00 Moscow time [4:00 GMT]," Shoigu said at a meeting with military leadership. 

According to the minister, the inspection will allow to assess how the three military would react to crises in the country's southwest. 

"During regrouping, the Southern Military District's readiness to promptly deploy self-sufficient forces to localize crises will be assessed. The capabilities of the Western and Central military districts to increase efforts in the southwestern strategic direction will be checked," he stated. 

"I instruct Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov to inform foreign military attaches about the unannounced comprehensive combat readiness inspection that is being carried out," Sputnik cited Shoigu as saying.