Russia’s Su-34, MiG Fighter Jets Begin Combat Exercises; Dutch Military To Inspect Southern Russia

More than 50 Russian fighter jets participated in combat exercises that began on Tuesday in the country’s northwest, Colonel Oleg Kochetkov, head of Russia’s Western Military District’s press service, announced Tuesday.

According to Kochetkov, the exercises include Su-34, MiG-29SMT, MiG-31BM and various Su-27 modification fighter jets. As part of the combat drills that will continue until the end of the week, the aircraft will shoot live ammunition and launch guided missiles at targets.

“Planned exercises of fighter aviation of the Western Military District began today in fighter aviation regiments located in the Central and Northwestern Federal Districts,” RIA Novosti quoted Kochetkov as saying, adding that one of the key stages of the exercises would be the “Ladoga-2015,” which will be held over Lake Ladoga, east of the outskirts of St. Petersburg.

Meanwhile, Sergei Ryzhkov, head of the Russian Defense Ministry’s treaty control department, said Tuesday that the Dutch military will conduct an inspection of Russian force’s activity in the country’s southern Rostov region, Russia’s Tass news agency reported.

The inspection of Russian territory, which would be the last of its kind by foreign military for 2015, will take place between Feb. 17 and Feb. 20, and cover nearly 18,000 square kilometers (about 7,000 square miles).

In addition, Turkish experts will also conduct an investigation in the same region between Feb. 17 and Feb. 19 to determine whether Russian armed forces are conducting military action in the area. The Turkish inspection will cover an area of about 14,000 square kilometers (5,400 square miles), Tass reported.