The verification of the combat readiness of the units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation of the Central and Southern Military Districts, which was suddenly carried out in mid-February at the initiative of Minister Sergei Shoigu, came as a surprise not only to Russian military personnel, but, as it turned out, to their overseas counterparts. Moreover, unpleasant. In the United States, having gathered intelligence about the exercises, they became worried: it turns out, including a “nuclear” training session.The largest nuclear exercises in the last 20 years were held in close proximity to Europe and only a couple of days after the American F-15 had to drive the Russian Tu-95 away from Guam, the Washington Free Beacon is horrified, citing Pentagon sources. Official commentaries in the military department were denied to journalists, saying that intelligence information was not being discussed. They also peacefully added that the United States also regularly conducts military exercises, there is nothing unusual about that.
But anonymously, a number of sources explained that they could not look indifferently at what happened on 17-21 in February in Russia. The fact is that the Americans didn’t observe anything of the kind since the times of the USSR - the scale of the maneuvers is impressive, according to intelligence data, both tactical and strategic nuclear forces.
The very fact of the transfer of the Strategic Missile Forces near Europe is a cause for concern, admitted the source of the WFB. But more than that, the incident can be considered a sign of Russia’s buildup of, if not a nuclear potential, then corresponding combat readiness, the source added.
The Russian military is also upset
As for the Russian reaction to an unexpected test, it also revealed that there is something to worry about. "There is a low level of training of graduates of training centers, especially drivers and driver-mechanics, which led to the exit of equipment when leaving the parks, during the march and fulfilling combat training tasks," Interfax reported following the results of an inspection statement by the Chief of the General Staff Army Valery Gerasimov. - In almost all proven "organisms" operational duty and duty officer for military units showed weak skills in bringing signals to the automated combat control systems. "
For example, the duty officer on the 201-th Russian military base in Tajikistan generally missed the alarm signal, which led to a delay in the exit of personnel from their deployment sites to the reserve area, KM.ru reported.
EuroPRO vs 12 GUMO
The Washington Free Beacon, starting the article by acknowledging that the Pentagon is concerned with the behavior of Russians, completes the material with domestic policy issues.
"Nuclear" exercises in Russia led "12 GUMO", clarify the American journalists. And by chance they translate the topic from 12 of the Main Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Defense, now the Russian Federation, which manages the bases of the nuclear weapons, on budget savings announced by the president. Which, in turn, could undermine the US readiness to repel a nuclear threat, emphasizes the WFB. And thus he comes out with the support of the military lobby and opponents of Obama. And also - supporters of the deployment of European missile defense, which is already a cause for concern in the Russian Defense Ministry.