News agencies in Russia have quoted Moscow’s ministry of defence as having launched a set of exercises. Russia’s Pacific Fleet will conduct the operation for a week-long period, it has been reported.
However, the exercises will take place while Vladimir Putin’s troops continue with their three-month invasion of Ukraine.
The exercises in the Pacific are thought to be thousands of kilometres from events in Ukraine.
But the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued an update on events in Ukraine and even claimed Russia has sustained significant losses.
In an intelligence update issued yesterday, the MoD said: “Russia has taken control of most of Sieverodonetsk.
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“In both locations, the river line likely still remains controlled by Ukrainian forces, who have destroyed existing bridges.
“It is likely Russia will need at least a short tactical pause to re-set for opposed river crossings and subsequent attacks further into Donetsk Oblast, where Ukrainian armed forces have prepared defensive positions.
“To do so risks losing some of the momentum they have built over the last week.”