Russian military exercises are usual combat training measures and are no signals or threats to other countries, something for which Russia is reproached in the West, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Wednesday, according to TASS.

"We have been hearing many reproaches lately from our Western partners who fear the level of combat training and the combat capability of our Armed Forces that has risen lately. There are attempts to portray the planned measures of our operational and combat training as ‘threatening signals’ to neighboring countries. Statements are circulated about a military threat, a new cold war and a new arms race," the Russian defense minister said at a meeting with representatives of the executive bodies of power on summing up the results of the strategic command and staff exercises dubbed Caucasus-2016.

"No doubt, this is not true. Our Armed Forces should reliably ensure the country’s security. Large-scale measures of operational and combat training of our Armed Forces are no signals to anyone and, all the more so, these are not threats. This is the necessary condition to ensure the combat training of the military organization of any country," the Russian defense minister said.

Source: MENA