Large scale wargame begins in Russian Far East: fleet spokesman

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (AFP) Jun 21, 2004
Some 800 servicemen from all over Russia were taking part in large scale military exercises that started early Monday and will last until Friday in the country's Far Eastern region, a spokesman for the Pacific fleet said.

The wargame, codenamed "Mobility-2004," is to involve army and navy troops, as well as paratroopers, and is to simulate a reaction to a military threat, the spokesman added.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, was to fly in to the Pacific port city of Vladivostok later Monday to supervise the drills.

The last large scale military exercises held in Russia's Far East date back to August last year.

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