(Reuters) - Russia fired cruise missiles at mock targets in the seas separating it from Alaska on Monday in what it said was an exercise to protect its northern shipping route in the Arctic.
The defence ministry said Vulcan, Granit and Onyx cruise missiles were fired over distances of hundreds of kilometres to strike targets simulating enemy ships in the Bering Sea.
The drills took place on Russia's Chukotka peninsula and in the Chukchi and Bering Seas, and were supervised by Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, commander-in-chief of the Russian navy.
Moscow said last year it planned to spend almost $30 billion by 2035 on developing the northern sea route, which has become more viable as climate change has reduced sea ice in the Arctic.
It runs across the top of Russia from Murmansk near the borders with Norway and Finland to the Bering Strait near Alaska.
Persons:
Vulcan, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, Vladimir Putin, Mark Trevelyan, Kevin Liffey
Organizations:
Reuters, Onyx
Locations:
Russia, Alaska, Bering, Chukotka, Russian, Ukraine, Moscow, Murmansk, Norway, Finland