From August 18 to 27, 2003, Russia staged the largest military exercises since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Code-named Vostok-2003, the war games were staged in the training zone of the Northern and Pacific Fleets from the Bering Sea to the Sea of Japan, with sideshows in the Caspian and the Black Seas. Judging from the Russian media reports, anywhere between 58 and 61 warships and auxiliary vessels and 69 to 80 warplanes and helicopters, as well as more than 70,000 military and civilian personnel, took part in the drills. And according to Nezavisimaya Gazeta (August 29, 2003), virtually all military districts and fleets across Russia ran exercises and shooting practices timed to Vostok-2003, involving around half a million service personnel. […]
Memo #:
317
Series:
1
PDF:
PDF URL:
http://www.gwu.edu/~ieresgwu/assets/docs/ponars/pm_0317.pdf
