Ocean 2024 strategic command-and-staff exercise

Taking part in the videoconference held within the framework of the Ocean
2024 strategic command-and-staff exercise were Defence Minister Andrei
Belousov Belousov AndreiDefence Minister of the Russian Federation , Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Alexander Moiseyev, Commander of the Pacific Fleet Viktor Liina, Commander of the Baltic Fleet Sergei Lipilin,
Commander of the Northern Fleet Konstantin Kabantsov, Commander of the Caspian
Flotilla Oleg Zverev, and Commander of the Mediterranean Sea Task Force Captain
1st Rank Dmitry Dobrynin.
The Ocean 2024 strategic command-and-staff exercise is one of the man
events of the operational and combat training of the Russian Armed Forces in 2024.
The exercise is taking place on September 10 through 16 under the general supervision of Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Alexander Moiseyev.
The objective of the exercise is to review the key elements dealing with
the combat readiness of the Navy and Aerospace Forces command and control
system and units and to check their cohesion.
The exercise is taking place in the waters of the Pacific and Arctic
Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic seas. It involves over
400 warships, submarines, and auxiliary fleet support vessels, 120 airplanes
and helicopters of the Navy and the Aerospace Forces, about 7,000 weapon
systems and military and special equipment, as well as over 90,000 troops.
The task groups of military command bodies and troops of Russia’s
foreign partners have been invited to take part in the exercise.
* * *
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades,
First, I would like to greet and express gratitude to all participants
in the Ocean 2024 strategic command-and-staff exercise. Its active phase, which
begins today, stipulates for training to fulfil the most complicated tasks under
conditions as close to combat ones as possible.
I would like to point out that it is the first naval exercise of this
scale we have held over the past 30 years. It will be held simultaneously in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as in the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic seas. It will involve the Navy and long-range and military transport
aviation. Ships and aircraft of the People’s Liberation Army of China are also
taking part in this process-oriented exercise. Representatives from 15
countries have been invited to attend as observers.
The objective of the exercise is to carry out a detailed review of the key elements dealing with the combat
readiness of the Navy and Aerospace Forces command and control system and units
and determine whether they can operate in a cohesive manner. The exercise will
include combined use of precision weapons as well as other modern and advanced
weaponry, taking into account, among other things, the experience gained during
the special military operation.
We are paying special attention to strengthening cooperation with our friendly countries. This is especially
important today amid rising geopolitical tension around the world.
We can see that the United States is doing everything to hold on to its global military and political dominance no matter the cost by utilising Ukraine and seeking to inflict a strategic defeat on our country. The United States and its
satellites have been using the alleged Russian threat and the China containment
policy as a pretext for building up their military presence along Russia’s
western borders, as well as in the Arctic and in Asia-Pacific.
The United States and its allies have made
no secret of their plans to deploy intermediate and shorter-range missiles in the so-called forward deployment areas. They view islands in the Western
Pacific, as well as several APR countries as priority vectors for these
deployments. Meanwhile, the US
armed forces have already held exercises to practice the way they will transfer
and deploy their future missile systems in Asia-Pacific.
The purpose of these aggressive
undertakings by the United States consists of achieving a substantial
edge in terms of its military capabilities, which would upend the existing
security architecture in Asia-Pacific with a disruptive effect on the balance
of power there. In fact, the United States is seeking to provoke an arms race,
while disregarding the security interests of its European and Asian allies.
This lays the groundwork for a dangerous crisis in Europe,
as well as in the Asia-Pacific Region.
I would like to stress that Russia must be ready regardless of how this
situation unfolds, while our Armed Forces must reliably defend Russia’s
national sovereignty and interests, as well as to counter any possible military
aggression no matter where it comes from, including in the ocean and at sea.
The Russian Navy must play a key
role in delivering on this objective. Our sailors have always defended our
Motherland’s security with courage and valour.
Today, during the special military
operation, they are selflessly fighting along the line of contact by targeting
the enemy with their devastating strikes, and effectively destroying military
facilities and infrastructure. They have been demonstrating courage and professionalism in their efforts. And they are our true heroes.
I would like to stress that we will
continue to strengthen our Navy, including its strategic nuclear component. We
will develop, systematically and comprehensively, all types and branches of the armed forces, increase their strike capabilities, improve the training of ship
crews, coastal and air units factoring in real combat experience, and do
everything necessary to reliably protect Russia and its people and maintain
strategic stability and the balance of power in the world.
I wish the participants of the exercise a successful solution to the tasks set. Good luck.
I would like to ask the Defence
Minister to report on readiness.
Defence Minister Andrei Belousov: In accordance with the Armed Forces
training schedule, we began the Ocean 2024 strategic command-and-staff exercise
at 09:00 a.m.
The plan includes repelling
large-scale aggression of a potential enemy from ocean, combating unmanned
boats, unmanned aerial vehicles, defending the naval bases, and conducting
amphibious operations and escorting transports, with due regard for the experience of the special military operation.
In accordance with the exercise
concept, a promising form of using the Navy, an independent operation in the ocean, will be tested. Military command bodies have occupied command posts and are elaborating plans for using the fleets. The forces and troops have been deployed
to designated areas and are ready for practical actions.
The head of the exercise, Navy Commander-in-Chief
Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, will report on the progress and the procedure for conducting the exercise.
The report is over.
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian
Navy Alexander Moiseyev: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
The Navy and a part of the Aerospace
Forces, together with our foreign partners, have begun practicing the tasks of the strategic command-and-staff exercise.
The exercise is being held during
seven days in bilateral format and in two stages, with the designation of the opposing sides: the Pacific, Baltic fleets and the Caspian flotilla have been
designated as our forces, and the Northern fleet as the enemy. The exercise
involves over 90,000 service personnel, over 400 ships and vessels, 125
aircraft, over 7,500 units of weapons and equipment, including from the People’s
Liberation Army of China: three ships, one vessel and 15 aircraft.
Practical actions are being practised
in 13 sea zones in three strategic areas.
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