Putin puts troops in western Russia on alert in drill
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President Vladimir Putin ordered an urgent drill to test the combat readiness of his armed forces across western Russia on Wednesday, flexing Moscow's military muscle amid tension with the West over Ukraine.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the training drills were not linked to events in Ukraine, and Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said they had been previously planned. He said they would involve about 150,000 military personnel. (Reuters)
