This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/putin-orders-military-drill-to-test-russias-readiness-for-action-9154702.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Putin orders military drill to test Russia's 'readiness for action' | Putin orders military drill to test Russia's 'readiness for action' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Vladimir Putin has ordered an urgent drill to test the combat readiness of its military forces amid tensions with the West over Ukraine. | President Vladimir Putin has ordered an urgent drill to test the combat readiness of its military forces amid tensions with the West over Ukraine. |
| Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a televised statement made at a meeting of top military officials in Moscow that the exercise is intended to "check the troops' readiness for action in crisis situations that threaten the nation's military security". | |
| Shoigu said Putin ordered the exercise Wednesday afternoon. | Shoigu said Putin ordered the exercise Wednesday afternoon. |
| The military will be put on high alert during the first two days and some will deploy to shooting ranges. | The military will be put on high alert during the first two days and some will deploy to shooting ranges. |
| The actual manoeuvres, which will commence on Friday, will last four days, he said. The exercise will involve ships of the Baltic and the Northern Fleets and the air force. | |
| Shoigu's statement made no reference to Ukraine, where tensions remain high following the ousting of Russia-backed President Viktor Yanukovych. | Shoigu's statement made no reference to Ukraine, where tensions remain high following the ousting of Russia-backed President Viktor Yanukovych. |
| Russia has questioned the legitimacy of the new Ukrainian authorities and accused them of failing to control radicals who threaten the Russia-speaking population in Ukraine's east and south. | Russia has questioned the legitimacy of the new Ukrainian authorities and accused them of failing to control radicals who threaten the Russia-speaking population in Ukraine's east and south. |
| A senior Russian lawmaker on Tuesday told pro-Russia activists in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula where Russia has a major naval base that Moscow will protect them if their lives are in danger. | A senior Russian lawmaker on Tuesday told pro-Russia activists in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula where Russia has a major naval base that Moscow will protect them if their lives are in danger. |
| Putin has made no public comment on Ukraine since President Yanukovich was driven from power over the weekend after months of political turmoil sparked by his decision to spurn deals with the European Union and improve ties with Russia. | Putin has made no public comment on Ukraine since President Yanukovich was driven from power over the weekend after months of political turmoil sparked by his decision to spurn deals with the European Union and improve ties with Russia. |
| On Tuesday US Secretary of State John Kerry and British Foreign Secretary William Hague disputed the idea that the situation in Ukraine is a “zero-sum game” between Russia and the West. | On Tuesday US Secretary of State John Kerry and British Foreign Secretary William Hague disputed the idea that the situation in Ukraine is a “zero-sum game” between Russia and the West. |
| They called for all nations to work together to help Ukraine peacefully achieve its democratic aspirations. | They called for all nations to work together to help Ukraine peacefully achieve its democratic aspirations. |
| Additional reporting by agencies |