Russia has launched large-scale naval exercises involving three fleets and the Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported on this.

The exercises will be held in the area of responsibility of all Russian Navy fleets and flotillas that participated in the event.

In total, more than 20,000 military personnel were involved in the training, and the total ship fleet reached about 300 warships and vessels.

Additionally, up to 50 aircraft and more than 200 units of military and special equipment participated.

“Units and formations of the Russian Navy have begun conducting planned exercises in the operational areas of the Northern, Pacific, and Baltic Fleets, as well as in the area of responsibility of the Caspian Flotilla,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.

An interesting fact is that units of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which were actively involved in previous years, did not attend the event.

First of all, this is due to the fact that the Black Sea Fleet ships cannot leave the Black Sea because of the Montreux Convention, as it prohibits the passage of warships of a country that is at war with another country.

In addition, the Black Sea Fleet has suffered serious losses over the two years of war, and its main task now is to preserve warships that are constantly hunted by Ukrainian naval drones.

The exercises included firing anti-aircraft missiles, artillery firing at sea and air targets, combat exercises on setting up passive obstacles to withdraw forces from the attack of a simulated enemy, and the use of anti-submarine weapons on surface ships and naval aviation.

Previously, during the celebration of the Russian Navy’s Day, two missile ships were spotted in the Caspian Sea, escaping from the Black Sea.

The video of the celebrations, which took place on Sunday, July 28, showed, in particular, two Project 22800 Karakurt-class corvettes (small missile ships), Amur and Tucha.

In addition, Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said that Russia had withdrawn the last Black Sea Fleet patrol ship from the occupied Crimea.