Russia checks readiness of its missile forces in Far East

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia - The Russian military is testing the readiness of its missile group in the Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula with a surprise inspection, TASS news agency reported Thursday.

"The group ran 40 km march from the places of permanent deployment and turned on combat positions," said Vladimir Matveyev, spokesman of Russia's Eastern Military District's Pacific Fleet.

More than 500 soldiers and 90 units of automotive and special equipment were involved in the drills, he was quoted as saying.

To detect subversive groups, the missile group used drones, Matveyev said, adding that the drones have found "conventional saboteurs" who mined roads.

Anti-sabotage units also completed the tasks for the destruction of "conventional enemy" in the drills, he said.

The Eastern Military District is one of the four Russian military operational strategic commands. It was established in 2010 and is headquartered in the Khabarovsk region.