The forces responsible for Russia's strategic nuclear arsenal will conduct major exercises this month involving more than 4,000 soldiers.
Russia's Defense Ministry announced on September 3, a day before the start of a NATO summit in Wales, that the exercises would take place in the Altai region bordering with China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia.
The maneuvers will reportedly include extensive use of air power, with supersonic MiG-31 fighters and Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft taking part.
Both Russia and NATO have stepped up military maneuvers since the outbreak of conflict in Ukraine between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine's east.
Putin recently issued a pointed reminder that Russia has a large nuclear arsenal.
