Putin orders surprise combat-readiness inspections ahead of massive military drills with China

Vladimir Putin has ordered surprise combat-readiness inspections of Russia’s Central and Eastern military districts, Northern Fleet, and Airborne Troops, ahead of the “Vostok-2018” military exercises, which Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu says will be Moscow’s biggest since Soviet war games at Poland’s border in 1981.

Soldiers from China and Mongolia will participate in Russia’s military drills next month. The unscheduled troop review will run from August 20 until August 25.