The Russian Pacific Fleet was placed on high alert on Friday for surprise drills involving practice missile launches, a significant show of force amid strained relations with the West over the conflict in Ukraine.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that the objective of the military exercises was to assess the ability of Russia's armed forces to respond to aggression. The drills will include nuclear-capable strategic bombers and other aircraft, in addition to the naval aviation of the Pacific Fleet.
The Russian military has primarily focused its forces on the front lines in Ukraine while continuing to conduct regular exercises throughout Russia to train its troops and demonstrate their readiness.
The Russian Defense Ministry released footage of warships and submarines setting sail to participate in the exercises. As part of the drills, marine units were deployed on amphibious landing vessels, and coastal defense missile systems were moved to firing positions.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov characterized the war games as routine training designed to "maintain the necessary level of the armed forces' readiness."
Shoigu mentioned that the exercises' scenario involves responding to an adversary's attempt to land on Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands. In February, Moscow reported that a Russian anti-submarine destroyer had chased away a U.S. submarine near the Kuril Islands.
Japan claims territorial rights to the Kuril Islands, referred to as the Northern Territories by Japan. The Soviet Union seized them during the final days of World War II, and the ongoing dispute has prevented the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities.
Russia announced last year that it had suspended peace talks with Japan in response to Tokyo's sanctions against Moscow for its actions in Ukraine. In recent years, Russia has increased its military presence on the islands, deploying advanced fighter jets, anti-ship missiles, and air defense systems.
The Pacific Fleet exercises commenced just days before Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu's scheduled visit to Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that Shoigu and Li would discuss "prospects of bilateral defense cooperation and acute issues of global and regional security."
Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day visit to Moscow last month underscored the two nations' partnership in the face of Western attempts to isolate Russia over Ukraine and provided political support to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Xi's visit raised concerns that China might be preparing to supply lethal weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine, which China denies. It also occurred just days after prosecutors at the International Criminal Court accused Putin of war crimes, including the forced removal of Ukrainian children to Russian territory.
Both Moscow and Beijing have accused Washington of trying to isolate them and hinder their development as they challenge the U.S. for regional and global leadership.
Putin and Xi stated that they would enhance contact between their militaries and conduct more joint sea and air patrols and exercises. However, there was no indication that China would assist Russia with weapons, as the U.S. and other Western allies had feared.
