In September, Russia organized its first naval exercises in two years but avoided holding them in the Black Sea.
This was reported by the UK Ministry of Defence's post on X (Twitter).
From September 10 to 16, the Russian Navy conducted large-scale strategic exercises named Okean-24, the first since a two-year hiatus. Prior to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia held annual military drills involving all of its armed forces, but these were canceled after the war began.
British intelligence suggests that Okean-24 was an attempt by Russia to showcase its military capacity despite being engaged in the war. Russian media claimed that the exercises involved over 400 ships, 120 aircraft, 7,000 vehicles, and 90,000 soldiers, conducted in the Barents, Baltic, Mediterranean, and Caspian Seas, as well as in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans.
However, the UK Ministry of Defence believes Russia exaggerated these figures, stating that only around 300 ships are currently operational.
