Putin puts Russian navy units on alert for military exercises

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Northern Fleet of the Russian navy and certain units of paratroopers and the Western Military District to be on full alert from 8 a.m. on Monday as part of snap checks, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu said.

The snap military exercises will involve 38,000 military, 3,360 units of military equipment, 41 warships, 15 submarines and 110 aircraft and helicopters, Tass news agency cited Shoigu as saying at the National Defence Management Centre.

"The check will be held within six days, between March 16 and March 21, 2015," Shoigu said.

The commanders-in-chief of the branches of the armed forces, combat arms commanders, and the heads of the defence ministry's main and central departments have received directives in this regard.

A working group has been set up that will be led by first deputy head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Sergey Rudskiy.

The news comes amid speculation about the whereabouts of Putin who has been missing from the public eye for some days now.