Russia has informed the OSCE member states of a surprise check in the Southern Military District held on Monday, Sergey Ryzhkov, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry department for control over treaties implementation, told journalists.
"Russia has sent a notification to the OSCE member states with detailed information about a surprise check of the troops of the Southern Military District," Ryzhkov said.
He clarified that the 2011 Vienna document did not oblige Russia to inform its partners of the number of troops and military hardware involved in the exercises.
"Russia has informed the OSCE member states of its military activities in an act of goodwill," Ryzhkov said.
A surprise check of combat readiness got under way in the troops of the Southern Military District; separate units of the airborne troops and military transport aviation on Monday morning. The Black Sea Fleet and the Caspian Flotilla joined the exercises. The troops' command systems will be checked both in the Southern and Central Military Districts.
source: tass.ru
