This is the moment Vladimir Putin’s paratroopers jump from a strategic airlifter at 33,000 feet and land on their markers in the Russian Arctic where they spent three days playing a series of war games.
The paratroopers reportedly jumped from a height of 10,000 metres (32,808 feet) from an Ilyushin Il-76 strategic airlifter.
Russian soldiers were reportedly testing new equipment specially developed for extreme Arctic conditions, such as oxygen masks, parachute systems, and white camouflage uniforms.
The jump took place over the remote island of Aleksandra Land, the westernmost island in the archipelago of Franz Josef Land, where Russia’s Arctic forces have built its northernmost military facility with a new 2,500-metre (8,202-foot) long runway, according to reports.
The Nagurskoye base boasts the latest equipment for Arctic military warfare, including snowmobiles, helicopters, radar systems, and anti-aircraft missile systems such as the S-300, aimed at strengthening control over Arctic air space.
Deputy minister of defence Yanus-Bek Yevkurov said: “Today, for the first time in world history, we conducted a group landing of personnel with special parachute systems in Arctic conditions from a height of 10,000 meters using oxygen equipment followed by combat training exercises.”
Yevkurov said: “The natural conditions in the Arctic Circle are strikingly different from those in which most military exercises take place, but soldiers must be trained to operate in a wide variety of conditions.”
The Russian MoD said the team of paratroopers took part in war games after landing on the island which included reconnaissance and search operations aimed at destroying the conditional enemy.
The exercises continued over three days with soldiers advancing to the collection point before returning to the Nagurskoye base.
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Story By: Gheorghi Caraseni, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
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