Big surge in NATO and Russian war games

The border between Russia and eastern Europehas seen a surge in NATO and Russian military drillsfollowing the annexation of Crimea in March 2014 and the subsequent conflict in the east of Ukraine
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NATO* Atlantic Ocean Ukraine Kaliningrad RUSSIA Crimea

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1 NATO EXERCISES Mar 2015: U.S., Canadian and German ships conduct war games in Black Sea with Bulgarian, Romanian and Turkish navies

2 Apr: Exercise Noble Jumps imulates deployment of over 1,500 troops from 11 countries in eastern Europe

3 May: 100 aircraft and 4,000 soldiers conduct trials in Exercise Arctic Challenge 

4 Jun 1-19: 7,000 troops conductdrills in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in Exercise Sabre Strike

5 Jun 5-12: BALTOPS exercise with 5,600 troops, 49 warships, 61 aircraft and landing craft in Baltic Sea

RUSSIAN EXERCISES

6 Feb 2015: 2,000 Russian paratroops conduct drills in Pskov region bordering Estonia and Latvia

7 Mar: 80,000 troops and 220 aircraft mobilised in Arctic region war games

8 May: Snap drill of 250 aircraft and 12,000 service personnel in Urals and western Siberia
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MAJOR MILITARY ACTIVITY ON RUSSIA-NATO BORDER IN 2015

Development of Spearhead Force of 5,000 troops able to deploy within 48 hours

Agreement to double NATO Response Force to around 30,000 troops

Poland buying U.S. Patriot anti-ballistic missile system

Deployment of nuclear-capable Iskander ballistic missiles to Kaliningrad enclave

Ten-year upgrade plan to boost defence capabilities in Crimea,Kaliningrad and Arctic region

Deployment of long-range Tu-22 bombers to Crimea 
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Source: Financial Times* U.S., Canada, Iceland not shown

Picture: Getty Images

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