Combat ships from the Russian Pacific Fleet started on Wednesday a series of drills in the Sea of Japan as part of the Vostok-2010 strategic exercises in Russia's Far East.
"Ships from the Pacific Fleet are carrying out missions to ensure favorable operational conditions in the Primorye joint task force's zone of control and are also conducting tactical drills in [the Sea of Japan]," said Capt. 1st Rank Roman Martov, a spokesman for the Pacific Fleet.
The flagships of the Northern and Black Sea fleets, the Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered missile cruiser and the Moskva missile cruiser, have also joined the exercises.
The Russian Armed Forces started on Tuesday large-scale Vostok-2010 military exercises in Siberia and the country's Far East. The drills, which involve at least 20,000 troops, up to 70 warplanes and 30 warships, will continue through July 8.
Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, stressed on Monday that the drills were not aimed against any one country.
Russia holds Vostok strategic command-and-staff exercises every two years. More than 8,000 troops took part in Vostok-2008.
MOSCOW, June 30 (RIA Novosti)
