President Putin has scrambled his troops across southwestern Russia as a part of large-scale military drills which are intended to test his troops’ readiness during a time of continuing tensions with the west.

Russian troops which are stationed in Crimea as well as forces in the North Caucasus and southwestern regions near the border with Ukraine have been put on combat alert.

Defense minister Sergei Shoigu has said these maneuvers will also engage airborne troops and military transport aviation along with the navy. He says these drills are meant to check the ability of Russian troops to respond to extremist threats and other challenges.

These military exercises are the most recent in a series of major drills which are intended to strengthen the readiness of the Russian military. They have continued in spite the nation’s economic downturn.

The New York Times reports Russia announced surprise military drills in the south.

The military exercise began at 5 a.m. with Russian pilots moving into their airplanes in snowy airfields and Russian officers unfurling maps.

The Russian military said the training was necessary to test the military’s readiness to hold off a foreign attack or to help citizens in a natural disaster in the south of Russia.

The Russian military exercises were ordered after Obama administration officials said they plan to substantially increase the deployment of heavy weapons, armed vehicles and other equipment to NATO countries which are located in Central and Eastern Europe in a clear show of force for Russia.

The tensions between Russia and the United States and military power and readiness have not been at such levels since the Cold War. The show of power is impressive on both sides and should convince Moscow and Washington, DC to aggressively pursue diplomatic resolutions to their differences or face a possible disaster of catastrophic degrees for Russia and the west.

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