MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The four-day drills, ordered by President Vladimir Putin, began at 01.00 p.m. Moscow time (10:00 GMT) on Monday. The drills involve 12,000 personnel, up to 250 aircraft and helicopters, 689 pieces of various military hardware.
"On May 25, 2015, Russia notified all countries-signatories of the 2011 Vienna document on confidence and security building measures about holding on May 25-28 a snap inspection of combat readiness of air and air defense units of the Central Military District ahead of the Center-2015 strategic military exercises," Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said.
Antonov added that Moscow has shared this information with OSCE members "as a gesture of good will."
