The games may be an attempt to remind the Middle East that Russia is an important player

In The Middle Of The Night, Putin 

Reminded The World Of Russia's Strength

Adam Taylor

Russian President Vladimir Putin's sudden announcement of enormous military exercises on the Black Sea has taken many by surprise, and many observers see the sudden announcement as Putin flexing Russia's military muscles.

There was no international warning about the war games — even Russia's military leaders were caught off guard by the announcement, which came at 4 a.m. Moscow time as Putin returned from Durban, South Africa, where he had attended a summit with Brazil, India, and China.

It's not a small exercise either. Various reports say some 36 warships and almost 7,000 personnel will take place in the exercises on the Black Sea (it's worth noting that any procedures with more than 7,000 troops would require Russia to notify other nations).

This video shows Russia's preparations:

That such a big exercise would be announced so suddenly is unusual. Reuters notes that Putin has repeatedly called for a "strong and agile military" since returning to the presidency last year, and has pledged the biggest military buildup since Soviet times.

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