Five dead and 15 wounded in a Russian raid in Sloviansk, Donetsk region

In the context of rapprochement with Beijing and tension with the West, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced, on Friday, sudden readiness and maneuvers for the Russian fleet in the Pacific Ocean. On orders from President Vladimir Putin, Mr. Shoigu said Russia’s Pacific Fleet, stationed in Vladivostok, in the Far East, would operate “in a short time” In combat training in naval areas “close and far away”.

During these exercises, the Pacific Fleet will train Repelling massive air attacksto “Search for and destroy submarines”Mr. Shoigu said during a meeting with senior officials, in addition to the launch of torpedoes, cannons and missiles. According to him, these maneuvers are aimed “Strengthening the Armed Forces’ Capabilities to Repel Aggression”. He said that Admiral Nikolay Yevminov, who heads the entire Russian fleet, would be responsible for supervising these exercises.

This announcement comes at a time when Beijing, which regularly conducts joint military exercises with the Russian army, announced on Friday the visit of the Chinese Defense Minister to Russia, from April 16 to 19.

Meanwhile, the Russian presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed that these sudden maneuvers were not the case. “Not related” NATO’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region, where all eyes are on China and its US rival. “It is the usual and routine military training, development of our armed forces, and inspection of their combat readiness.”He confirmed that it is not “unexpected” Currently attended by Vladimir Putin. And persistence:

“The practice of unannounced inspections continues, as usual, in recent years it has been carried out on an ongoing basis.”