MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia's Western Military District missile brigade was put on alert in the Leningrad Region for Iskander-M training launches, the Western Military District spokesman said Tuesday.
"At the moment, parts of the detachment are marching toward designated areas, where missile strike training will be carried out with simulated launches of the Iskander-M Tactical Ballistic Missile System," Col. Igor Muginov told reporters.
The Iskander-M (NATO reporting name SS-26 Stone) is a mobile ballistic missile system designed to destroy a wide variety of ground targets at a range of up to 310 miles.
According to Muginov, at the end of the drills, servicemen will conduct a preemptive strike on a simulated enemy's missile systems and other strategically important targets.
The soldiers will also practice camouflage, biological and chemical defense of troops on the move, countering the attacks of a simulated enemy's reconnaissance groups.
More than 500 servicemen will take part in the drills, using 50 equipment and hardware units, Muginov said.
