Russia has launched the military exercises in the Arctic. More than 1,000 soldiers, 14 aircraft and 34 special military units are taking part in drills in northern Siberia. It seeks to bolster claims to the region’s vast hydrocarbon and mineral wealth. Recently Russia pressed a claim at the United Nations for an additional 1.2 million square kilometers (463,000 square miles) of Arctic shelf.
Korolyov, the commander of Russia’s northern naval fleet, stressed that the exercise was “purely defensive in nature” and was not directed against any third country. Russia conducted similar military drills in May.
Moscow has been trying to stake claim in Arctic’s vast energy and mineral resources, which are accessible due to the receding ice caps, despite warnings from environmentalists. The Arctic shelf claim Russia made earlier this month includes the North Pole and could potentially give it access to some 4.9 billion tons of hydrocarbons.
Russian Military
- The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are the military service of Russia, established after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
- The commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the president of Russia.
- The Russian military is divided into three services: the Russian Ground Forces, the Russian Navy, and the Russian Air Force.
- Russia possess an estimated 8,500 total nuclear warheads of which 1,800 are strategically operational.
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