Russian Western Military District commission starts Baltic Fleet inspection

MOSCOW, July 19. /TASS/. A special commission headed by Commander of the Russian Western Military District troops Andrei Kartapolov has started an inspection to check progress in eliminating shortcomings in the Baltic Fleet that had been exposed by a Defense Ministry inspection, the district spokesman Igor Muginov said on Tuesday.

The commission will check the "organization of combat training in the formations and units of the coastal defense troops, naval aviation and ship forces." Also, the commission will check the preparation of the ranges for an international seaborne assault naval competitions stage that to be held in the Baltic Sea in August.

"The commission's work will be completed by the weekend", Muginov said.

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Russia's Baltic Fleet in photos

The Defense Ministry reported previously that serious shortcomings in combat training and distortion of real situation in reports were exposed in the Baltic Fleet by an inspection, which took place from May 11 to June 10. On June 29, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu dismissed the Commander of the Baltic Fleet, Viktor Kravchuk, and the Chief of Staff of the Fleet, Sergei Popov, for the shortcomings in combat training and distortions of reality in reports.

He ordered an urgent elimination of the shortcomings and a new inspection of the Baltic Fleet before the end of this year.

Vice-Admiral Alexander Nosatov and Vice-Admiral Igor Mukhametshin will perform the duties of the Baltic Fleet commander and chief of staff.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu gave orders "to take exhaustive measures to remedy the situation and establish order in the Baltic Fleet", which will be inspected again at the end of the year.