MOSCOW, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Chief of General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov said Thursday that the combat readiness checks carried out during the winter period have been successful.
"A total of more than 300,000 servicemen, 35,000 units of weapons, military and special equipment, alongside 180 ships and boats and 900 aircraft were involved in the inspection activities," Gerasimov said at the Russian National Defense Management Center.
He said the combat readiness has increased in the Armed Forces from the same period last year.
Gerasimov instructed commanders of military districts, the Northern Fleet and the Airborne Forces to ensure that all troops return to their places of permanent deployment in accordance with the plan.
The large-scale combat readiness inspections took place over the past weeks at a time when tensions between Russia and Ukraine have flared up.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization expressed concerns about the movements of Russian troops, while Moscow said the maneuvers are purely defensive. Enditem
