Story highlights Russia's land, sea and air drill will involve 38,000 troops, 41 ships and 110 aircraft

Kremlin calls drill routine, but diplomat says Russia is "very concerned" by NATO drills

Operation Atlantic Resolve billed as response to Russian actions in Ukraine, Crimea

(CNN) As the U.S. and several Eastern European NATO countries conduct a series of military exercises near Russia's border, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his Northern Fleet "to full alert in a snap combat readiness exercise" in the Arctic, state-run media reported Monday.

At least one Russian leader described the drill as routine and unrelated to the "international situation."

Photos: U.S. troops in European exercises Photos: U.S. troops in European exercises U.S. soldiers fire ceremonial rounds from M1A2 Abrams tanks at the Adazi training area, in Latvia, last November. Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: U.S. troops in European exercises Dragoons assigned to Head Hunter Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment load their Strykers and equipment onto a local railway as they prepare for their upcoming rotation in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve at Rose Barracks, Germany, March 11, 2015. Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: U.S. troops in European exercises Dragoons from Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment participate in Operation Atlantic Resolve. They wear ribbons representing the Lithuanian flag during an Independence Day event in Vilnius, Lithuania, March 11, 2015. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: U.S. troops in European exercises Dragoons from Iron Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, conduct a combined training exercise with Estonian soldiers in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, March 7, 2015, in Rabassare, Estonia. Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: U.S. troops in European exercises Dragoons from Iron Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, train with Estonian Allies in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, March 7, 2015, in Rabassare, Estonia. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: U.S. troops in European exercises U.S. Army Pfc. William Chaput, left, and Staff Sgt. Demarcus Credit, both of Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, scan for enemy activity during a combined training exercise at Pabrades training area, March 4, 2015. Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: U.S. troops in European exercises A Lithuanian soldier from 3rd Company, Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion waits in an M113 armored personnel carrier during a combined live-fire exercise with U.S. troops at Pabrade training area, Lithuania, March 4, 2015. Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: U.S. troops in European exercises Lithuanian soldiers, left, of 3rd Company, Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion, advance in a M113 armored personnel carrier with U.S. Troopers from 3rd Platoon, Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, following close behind at Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania, March 2, 2015. Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: U.S. troops in European exercises U.S. troopers of 3rd Platoon, Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, load into a Stryker during a live-fire joint training exercise with Lithuanian soldiers of 3rd Company, Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion, in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, on March 2, 2015. Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: U.S. troops in European exercises A Bangalore torpedo explodes at a demolition range during a training exercise at Pabrade training area, Lithuania, February 27, 2015. Dragoons of Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, spent the day learning the process of assembling and detonating makeshift explosives. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: U.S. troops in European exercises Soldiers of Iron Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment rider Strykers through the Estonian Independence Day parade in February. Hide Caption 11 of 11

The fleet got its orders at 8 a.m. Monday, according to Sputnik , launching a land, sea and air drill that will involve 38,000 troops, 41 ships, 15 submarines and 110 aircraft.

"The main task of the (combat readiness drill) is to assess the armed forces from the Northern Fleet's capabilities in fulfilling tasks in providing military security of the Russian Federation in the Arctic region," Russian Defense Minister Gen. Sergey Shoigu told the media outlet. "New challenges and threats of military security demand the further heightening of military capabilities of the armed forces and special attention will be paid to the state of the newly formed strategic merging (of forces) in the North."

The drills will run through Friday, Sputnik reported.