A Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson said on Friday that more than 80 helicopters of the types Mi-24 and Mi-8 were moved from military bases in the west of the country to emergency airports.
The spokesman also said that military air defense units are being re-deployment to the west 500 kilometers away from their permanent bases to test their combat readiness, as per the instructions of President Vladimir Putin.
These preparations come amid European tension regarding the political crisis in Ukraine.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm