NAVAL POWER and Military Readiness
Russia's Baltic Fleet Starts Naval Drills In Baltic Sea
Russia's Baltic Fleet started naval exercises in the Baltic Sea on June 5 the Russian military's press service said. Around 3,500 soldiers and up to 40 ships and boats will take part in the drills, which are scheduled to last until June 15, the military said. To read the original story by Reuters, click here.
Russian military kicks off naval exercise in Baltic Sea with 3,500 soldiers
The Russian military has begun a naval exercise in the Baltic Sea involving 40 vessels, 25 fighter jets, and over 3,500 soldiers, the press service of the Russian Baltic Fleet said on Monday.
“The manoeuvre will include training of maritime communications, defence tasks, and fleet bases,” the press release says. The naval exercise is scheduled to last until June 15.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine more than 15 months ago, Moscow’s forces have conducted naval exercises in the Baltic Sea several times to rehearse for a possible state of war.
There have been repeated incidents between Russian and NATO aircraft in the Baltic Sea area recently. Both sides accuse each other of violating each other’s airspace.
Besides the Baltic Fleet, Russia’s Pacific Fleet also began a large-scale exercise on Monday.
According to the Pacific Fleet Press Service, as many as 60 ships, 35 fighter jets and helicopters, and more than 11,000 soldiers are participating in the drills in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk on the other side of the country.
(dpa/NAN)
Putin stages huge show of force in Baltic Sea and Pacific Ocean amid setbacks in his war in Ukraine
- Some 40 warships and 25 aircraft took part in naval drills in the Baltic Sea
- Russia's drills come a day after NATO states kicked off their own annual drills
Vladimir Putin has staged a huge show of military strength in the Baltic Sea and Pacific Ocean today amid setbacks in his war in Ukraine.
Some 40 surface warships and 25 aircraft took part in naval drills in the Baltic Sea involving some 3,500 service personnel, which is scheduled to last until June 15.
Russia shares the sea with seven NATO countries plus soon-to-join Sweden. The seven alliance states bordering the Baltic Sea are Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany.
The drills involving thousands of military personnel still went ahead despite Russia currently facing several setbacks in Ukraine, including infighting among its own ranks.
Russia's drills come just a day after NATO member states kicked off their own annual Baltic drills. On the NATO side, 6,000 personnel, 50 ships and more than 45 aircraft are taking part, with Finland participating for the first time as an alliance member, the United States Navy said.
Some 40 surface warships and 25 aircraft took part in naval drills in the Baltic Sea and Pacific Ocean today
Russia's Naval power after NATO wargames kickstart in Baltic Sea
'An operational exercise with the Fleet's groupings commanded by Baltic Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Vladimir Vorobyov has begun on June 5 in the Baltic Sea and at combat training ranges in the Kaliningrad region,' said a spokesman for the Russian defence ministry.
In the Russian Far East, from 6,400 miles away, more than 60 naval and support vessels and 35 aircraft were sent to undertake exercises based in the seas of Japan and Okhotsk off the Pacific coast.
More than 11,000 troops in total were involved in Putin's strategic war games.
A statement from the Russian defence ministry said: 'An operational exercise of all-arms forces of the [Pacific] Fleet is being held in the offshore maritime zone from June 5 to 20 under the guidance of Admiral Viktor Liina, the Fleet Commander.'
Footage showed warships sailing from Vladivostok and engaging in the Kremlin's military drills.
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Russia begins Baltic Sea drills one day after NATO
[1/4] A Russian warship takes part in naval exercises in the Baltic Sea, in this still image taken from video released June 5, 2023. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
June 5 (Reuters) - Russia said on Monday it began holding naval drills in the Baltic Sea, one day after NATO member states kicked off their annual Baltic drills.
On the NATO side, 6,000 personnel, 50 ships and more than 45 aircraft are taking part, with Finland participating for the first time as an alliance member, the United States Navy said.
The Russian military said up to 40 ships and boats, 25 aircraft and around 3,500 personnel will take part in its exercises, which are scheduled to last until June 15.
- Moscow also began drills in the Sea of Japan and far eastern Sea of Okhotsk on Monday, which will involve over 60 warships and support vessels from its Pacific Fleet.
Putin touts Russia's Naval power after NATO wargames kickstart in Baltic Sea | Watch
A day after NATO's drills in the Baltic sea, Russia is conducting mega naval exercises in the Far East Seas & also the Baltic Sea. Watch this video for details.
stars and stripes
Work remains for NATO in Baltic despite adaptations to Russian threat, US admiral says
STARS AND STRIPES June 5, 2023
TALLINN, Estonia — NATO is ready if conflict with Russia arises, but finding ways to enhance overall readiness is critical and more work is needed, a U.S. admiral said this weekend just before an annual Baltic Sea exercise kicked off.
Lessons from the war in Ukraine have NATO better-prepared than it was a year-and-a-half ago, Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet and Striking and Support Forces NATO, said Saturday, the day before the start of BALTOPS.
NATO is reshaping its force readiness plans to better adapt to threats. Those plans are not yet finalized, but as more is learned about them, exercises are being adapted to ensure that “we are rehearsing the right things,” Ishee said.
Although the Russian bear always looms large in the Baltics, Ishee and other commanders stressed that BALTOPS is not about Russia.
Rather, the exercise is intended to improve the alliance’s proficiency and build the trust needed to deter any enemy, they said.
And with the accession of Finland in April and the likely addition of Sweden pending, the alliance will boast a decisive edge in the Baltic Sea region, said Spanish Lt. Gen. Luis Lanchares, deputy commander of Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum in the Netherlands.
“As soon as Sweden becomes part of NATO, nearly the entire Baltic coast will be NATO nations,” Lanchares said.
The 52nd iteration of BALTOPS began Sunday with roughly 20 participating countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia and Turkey, the Navy said.
The two-week exercise includes 50 ships, more than 45 aircraft and 6,000 personnel, said Cmdr. Richlyn Ivey, a spokeswoman for U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet. It ends June 16.
NATO has bolstered its presence in northeastern Europe in recent years. It has established battalions in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland and sent more ships and resources to the Baltic Sea, according to the alliance.
Those and other actions, particularly since full-scale war broke out in Ukraine in February 2022, are in response to Russian aggression, the alliance’s website states.
From Estonia’s point of view, seeing the Kremlin throwing its weight around is nothing new, said Gen. Martin Herem, commander of Estonian defense forces.
The Russians just aren’t pretending any longer that they are good, he said.
But the strengthening of the Estonian navy through the addition of ships and weapons combined with the new Nordic geopolitical calculus significantly changes the Baltic Sea environment, he said.
“That gives us a completely new angle to solve our security question,” Herem said.
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