Russia: Huge Arctic military drills underway at Putin’s request

Russia’s Northern Fleet began snap exercises, Monday, in the Murmansk Region after Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had given the order earlier on Monday. Shoigu is reported to have said that the purpose of the drills is to assess the fleet’s performance in the Arctic and to ensure it is ready in case it is faced with “new challenges and threats.“ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To u