Russian President Vladimir Putin has overseen massive military maneuvers taking place near the European continent, featuring scenarios for a beach invasion with the largest fleet of amphibious landing boats in the world. Approximately 2,000 soldiers and more than 200 warships are participating in the drills in the Kaliningrad region, which overlooks the Baltic Sea and is one of the closest Russian areas to the heart of Europe.
Putin also witnessed military exercises in other regions of the country, wherein Russia, alongside Armenia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia, participated in the Nizhny Novgorod area in western Russia. The recent Russian maneuvers, totaling nine, have raised concerns among European countries, especially Ukraine.
In Kaliningrad, footage of the massive exercises depicted a significant landing of troops involving the Baltic Fleet and other naval units, along with large "LCAC" type amphibious landing boats. Before the ground forces landed, warships bombarded targets along the coast with the aim of destroying the presumed defenses of enemy forces, with Su-30 fighters also participating in the bombings. Besides amphibious landings, there were helicopter drop operations as well.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the maneuvers would continue until September 16, but Moscow announced that not all its forces would return to their military bases until mid-October, without explaining the reason for this delay. This situation raises concerns for Ukraine due to the significant Russian military buildup near its borders. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that "the scenarios being practiced there pose serious risks for Ukraine." He added that if Russia dominates Belarus, it would mean a 1,000-kilometer border, which represents a threat.
