Russia began an extensive military exercise in the Baltic Sea region on Thursday.
According to the country’s Ministry of Defense, ships from the Russian Baltic Fleet will train to “defend sea roads and naval bases” in the strategically important area. 60 ships and 40 aircraft are said to participate in the exercise, which also takes place on land at settlements in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
The Russian exercise coincides with the Baltic Operation, Baltops, in the Baltic Sea, where 16 nations, among them Sweden, and NATO participate.
Also last week, the Russian navy practiced at Kaliningrad.