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The huge four-day “civil defence” drill set alarm bells ringing in Washington and London, with tensions already high over disagreements in Syria. Following a breakdown in communication between the USA and Russia, the Kremlin organised the huge emergency practice drill - either as a show of force or something more sinister. The drill will prepare Russian citizens for “large natural and man-made disasters”, according to the country’s Ministery for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disaster.

GETTY Vladimir Putin has sparked concern with a mass evacuation drill

The ministry revealed 40 million civilians, 200,000 emergency rescuers and 50,000 units of equipment are involved in the war game, which ran from October 4 to October 7.

RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT Emergency responders taking part in this week's drill

A spokesman said in a statement: “The main goal of the drill is to practice organisation of management during civil defence events and emergency and fire management, to check preparedness of management bodies and forces of civil defence on all levels to respond to natural and man-made disasters and to take civil defence measures.” They explained the scheme would be divided into three stages: awareness, planning and evacuation. MAPPED: The world's nuclear powers and the UNOFFICIAL nuclear threats

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The statement said: “The drill will rehearse radiation, chemical and biological protection of the personnel and population during emergencies at crucial and potentially dangerous facilities. “Fire safety, civil defence and human protection at social institutions and public buildings are also planned to be checked. Response units will deploy radiation, chemical and biological monitoring centres and sanitation posts at the emergency areas, while laboratory control networks are going to be put on standby.”

GETTY Mr Putin's scheme involves the movement of 40m civilians and 200,000 emergency responders

GETTY Relations between Russia and the USA have broken down due to disagreements over Syria

Last week, the US condemned Russia’s actions in Syria, which it said were leading to death and destruction. A spokesman for the US State Department said: “Extremist groups will continue to exploit the vacuums that are there in Syria to expand their operations, which could include attacks against Russian interests, perhaps even Russian cities. Russia will continue to send troops home in body bags, and will continue to lose resources, perhaps even aircraft.”

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