Russia holds large-scale Ladoga-2009 military drills

MOSCOW. August 18. KAZINFORM. Russia has started the strategic component of ongoing military exercises in the northwest of the country, an aide to the Ground Forces commander said on Tuesday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

The Ladoga-2009 drills, held from August 10 to September 28 as part of Russia's military reforms, involve all units of the Leningrad military district, several units of the Siberian military district, interior troops, border guards, and the Northern and Baltic fleets.

"In accordance with the combat training plan of the Russian Armed Forces, the Ladoga-2009 strategic exercises are going ahead under the command of the Russian Ground Forces commander, Gen. Vladimir Boldyrev," Col. Igor Konashenkov said.

The official said the current phase of the exercise involved the planning of strategic deployment of the armed forces in Russia's northwest and putting the military units on high alert; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.