Vladimir Putin orders combat readiness check of troops

, June 21: Russian President

has ordered the troops in

's Central Military District on full combat readiness for a snap check, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Saturday.

"In line with this order, as of 11 a.m. on Saturday the troops of the Central Military District and also military units deployed on its territory are put on full combat readiness," Shoigu told a ministry meeting.

The check, which will run through June 28, could involve more than 65,000 servicemen, Xinhua reported citing the minister.

This latest check of armed forces, which Putin has done several times since 2013, comes a day after Russian troops started snap drills near Chelyabinsk in the southern Urals.

IANS