MOSCOW, May 26 (UPI) -- Russia began a four-day military exercise involving 12,000 troops and as many as 250 combat aircraft, in a show of combat readiness.
The exercises began Monday in the Komi Republic, east of Moscow in northwestern Russia. The Russian Defense Ministry described it as a "massive surprise inspection" to test combat worthiness. Aircraft will test cruise missile capability against "an imaginary enemy," a report by the Russian news agency Tass said, adding nearly 700 units of "various weapons and military equipment" will be involved.