Russia’s Baltic Fleet holds naval infantry drills in Kaliningrad region following Lithuania’s transit ban

Russia’s Baltic Fleet has completed military exercises with the participation of the naval infantry and special forces, the Baltic Fleet department of the Western Military District press service told RBC newspaper.

At a test site in Russia’s Kaliningrad region, the military practiced parachuting in full combat gear from Mi-8 military transport helicopters belonging to the Navy aviation.

“After landing, intelligence officers practiced capturing prisoners, conducting reconnaissance patrols and methods of disrupting enemy communications. They also practiced the use of modern topographic control and navigation system GLONASS, as well as enhanced close-area reconnaissance stations and mobile ground reconnaissance stations,” the press service added.

Yesterday, the Russian military held drills in the Kaliningrad region practising shooting from infantry fighting vehicles.

The exercises were held against the backdrop of Lithuania’s transit restrictions concerning the Kaliningrad region. On 18 June, Lithuania’s railway company LTG Cargo banned transportation of sanctioned goods through its territory from mainland Russia to Russia’s Kaliningrad region and back.

The Kaliningrad region is a semi-exclave, bordered by Poland to the south, Lithuania to the north and east, and the Baltic Sea to the west.

According to preliminary estimates, the ban covers from 40 to 50% of goods transported to the region, including construction materials, concrete, metals, as well as “finished goods” exported from the region.