New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) Russian ground units, equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles as well as vessels from the Northern and Pacific Fleets, have been placed on high combat alert, the Russian Defence Ministry confirmed on Monday.
The Russian Navy includes submarines armed with nuclear missiles, RT reported.
The ministry said the move was made in accordance with the order issued by President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, RT reported.
Putin cited "illegitimate sanctions" against Russia and "aggressive statements" by Western officials, without elaborating.
Many countries, including the US, the UK and EU member states, have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in response to its military operation in Ukraine.
Earlier, Putin had placed the country's nuclear deterrent forces on "special" alert on Sunday, RT reported.
The move was announced during Putin's meeting with Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.
"Western countries are not only taking unfriendly actions against our country in the economic area. I'm speaking about the illegitimate sanctions that everyone is well aware of. However, the top officials of the leading NATO countries also make aggressive statements against our country as well," Putin stated.
The move comes in response to 'hostile' rhetoric by top NATO officials, Putin said, RT reported.
WASHINGTON - Joe Biden promised to make a woman his running mate — and Bernie Sanders said "in all likelihood" he would do the same — as Sunday's first Democratic debate of the social-distancing era offered a brief, if temporary, respite from the anxiety of COVID-19.
President Donald Trump's administration is considering a plan to give incentives to US companies to relocate their operations back home after the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, his Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow said on Monday.
Pakistan on Monday reported 179 coronavirus cases after a sharp increase was reported among pilgrims who had recently returned to the country from Iran via the Taftan border and were quarantined in Sukkur.
A Dubai court heard that an Indian man based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) murdered his girlfriend and then drove around the city for 45 minutes with her body in the front seat, even stopping to pick up a meal, before turning himself in to police.
