Russian Armed Forces Supreme Commander in Chief, President Vladimir Putin has ordered a surprise check of the combat preparedness of the Eastern Military District, Russian Defense Minister Gen. of the Army Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with senior military commanders.

Russian Armed Forces Supreme Commander in Chief, President Vladimir Putin has ordered a surprise check of the combat preparedness of the Eastern Military District, Russian Defense Minister Gen. of the Army Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with senior military commanders.

"Consistent with his orders, Eastern Military District troops, as well as formations and military units stationed on its territory will be put on full combat alert at 10 a.m. Moscow time today," Shoigu said.

Along with a surprise inspection, Putin has instructed the Defense Ministry and the Main Directorate for Special Programs to check the readiness of a number of federal ministries, other agencies, and regional administrations in the district to perform their duties in wartime, Shoigu said.

In particular, the Industry and Trade Ministry, the Communications Ministry, the Transport Ministry, the Federal Press and Mass Communications Agency (Rospechat), the Federal Communications Agency (Rossvyaz), the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviation), the Federal Road Transport Agency (Rosavtodor), the Federal Railway Transport Agency (Rosszheldor), the Federal Sea and River Transport Agency (Rosmorrechflot) and organizations reporting to them, and the administrations of the Trans-Baikal, Primorye, Khabarovsk and Kamchatka Territories and the Amur and Sakhalin regions will be inspected to evaluate their "readiness to perform their duties in wartime."

The defense minister ordered practicing the establishment of special groups, the technical protection of strategic railroads, motor roads and other routes to be used by armed forces in their movements, and the transfer of civilian ships to the Navy.

The inspection will last from September 11 to 18, Shoigu said.

He also ordered that, in conducting the inspection, "proper safety precautions be taken, safekeeping of weapons and ammunition be ensured, damage to government property be ruled out, and negative impact on the environment be prevented."

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