The Central Military District of the Russian Armed Forces, based in Yekaterinburg, was the first to start combat training missions in the new year. There are about 30 military aircraft and more than 500 soldiers employed including flight personnel, engineers, technicians, air traffic controllers and support groups; all together they are engaged in more than 50 tasks.

The training is being held at airports in Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions, in Perm and Krasnoyarsk, as well as in the Kyrgyzstan, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry report. The exercises are conducted by pilots and crew engaged in Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers, Mikoyan MiG-31 high-altitude interceptor fighters, Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft, Su-25 attack airplane and Antonov An-12 and An-26 transport airplanes.