The drills are launched in accordance with the training plan, statement added.
"Today, in accordance with the training plan of the Russian armed forces, units and formations of the naval forces are beginning to participate in the strategic command and staff exercise 'Ocean-2024,' which will last until September 16 inclusive," the ministry said in a statement, adding that maneuvers will take place in the waters of the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic Seas.
More than 400 warships, submarines and support vessels will take part in the exercise, the statement read, adding that over 120 aircraft and helicopters of the naval aviation of the naval and the aerospace forces, about 7,000 units of weapons, military and special equipment, as well as more than 90,000 personnel will be involved.
"The main objectives of [the drills] ... are to test the readiness of the command staff of the Russian Navy formations and units to manage heterogeneous force groups in their areas of responsibility, solve non-standard operational tasks, comprehensively use high-precision weapons, advanced and modern weapons and military equipment during the practical part of the exercise, as well as expand interaction with the naval forces of partner countries in solving joint tasks at sea," the ministry said.
The first stage of the exercise will focus on deploying force groups to designated combat training grounds, while during the second stage of the exercise, they will master combat operations to destroy strategic objects and forces of the simulated enemy and to land troops.
"Operational groups of military command bodies and military contingents from foreign partner states of Russia have been invited to participate in the exercise," the statement said.
Cooperation With Chinese Navy
Warships of the Russian and Chinese naval forces met in Peter the Great Gulf to jointly participate in the Ocean-2024 exercise, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
"Warships of the Russian and Chinese naval forces met in Peter the Great Gulf to jointly participate in the strategic command and staff exercise 'Ocean-2024,'" the ministry said in a statement, adding that the drills involve four Chinese warships and a supply vessel.
Units of Russia's Pacific Fleet and the Chinese naval forces will practice defending sea lanes in the Primorsky direction, the ministry said.
Putin to Watch Ocean-2024 Drills' Active Phase Via Videoconference
Russian President Vladimir Putin will follow the active phase of the Ocean-2024 strategic exercises via videoconference, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
"Putin continues to work in the Kremlin on Tuesday, September 10 … Today he will take part in the beginning of the active phase of the strategic command and staff exercises 'Ocean-2024' from the situational center in the Kremlin," Peskov told reporters, adding that the president will make a statement.
When asked about NATO exercises held simultaneously with the Ocean-2024 drills, the official said that this is a common practice for conducting counterexercises.
Russia to Use Over 30 Warships in Caspian Sea Under Ocean-2024 Drills
More than 30 warships and support vessels will be involved in the Caspian Sea as part of the Ocean-2024 exercise, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
According to the ministry, as part of the strategic command and staff drills "Ocean-2024", the ships of the Caspian Flotilla went to sea to carry out tasks to destroy surface and air targets of the "enemy".
"More than 30 warships and support vessels of the auxiliary fleet will be involved in the Caspian Sea to work out the episode of the strategic command and staff exercise: the missile ship Dagestan, the small artillery ships Astrakhan and Volgodonsk, the small missile ships Veliky Ustyug, Grad Sviyazhsk and Uglich, the base minesweepers Magomet Gadzhiev and the German Ugryumov, anti-sabotage boats and raid minesweepers," the statement read.
Russian Baltic Fleet Warships Set Out to Conduct Tasks Within Ocean-2024 Drills
"Over 30 warships and boats as well as Baltic fleet maintenance vessels have left permanent base points and set out to the appointed areas of the Baltic Sea to carry out practical tasks of the strategic command staff drills Ocean-2024," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.