For the first time in two years, Russia conducted large-scale strategic naval exercises: British intelligence explains what it means

Russia has held large-scale strategic naval exercises called Ocean-24. They lasted from September 10 to 16.

This was reported in a review by the British Ministry of Defense. The department noted that these exercises took place after a two-year break.

Until 2022, Russia had been holding annual exercises involving all branches of the armed forces, but over the past two years, they were likely canceled due to the war in Ukraine.

According to intelligence, the Ocean-24 exercise was an attempt to demonstrate capabilities and combat readiness despite the ongoing conflict.

According to Russian media reports, more than 400 ships, 120 aircraft, 7,000 pieces of equipment, and 90,000 military personnel were involved in the exercises. They performed tasks in the Barents, Baltic, Mediterranean, and Caspian Seas, as well as in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans.

"Exercises have indeed been conducted in these regions, but Russia has almost certainly grossly exaggerated these figures, as there are currently only about 300 ships ready to participate," the review says.

The agency noted that Moscow has avoided conducting exercises in the Black Sea.

"There was no Ocean 2024 activity in the Black Sea, most likely due to attacks by Ukraine in the first six months of 2024," the report says.

As a reminder, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has disabled another ship of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Armed Forces, the minesweeper Alexander Obukhov. The ship was damaged and water got into the engine.

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