Russia suddenly sends troops to Crimea

Russia has deployed paratroopers and marines to Crimea and the southern Krasnodar region in a surprise combat readiness check.

The deployment of troops to Crimea and the Krasnodar region is part of a surprise combat readiness inspection. Illustration photo: Sputnik

"As part of a snap combat readiness check, airborne troops and marines from the Caspian Flotilla have been deployed to training grounds in Crimea and the Krasnodar region," Sputnik reported yesterday, citing a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry.

The paratroopers have marched from the Volgograd region to the Opuk training ground on the Crimean peninsula. Meanwhile, the marines have been ordered to the Rayevsky training ground. They will conduct training exercises on new, unfamiliar territory and terrain.

Snap combat readiness checks were conducted from August 25 to 31 in Russia's southern, western and central military districts, as well as for the Northern Fleet, Aerospace Forces and paratroopers.

Russia on August 25 began large-scale surprise military exercises in military districts located around the Crimean peninsula, an area bordering Ukraine, the Baltic states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and a territory stretching from the Ural Mountains to central Siberia.

According to VNE