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.
A US man has surrendered to the police in California's San Bernardino for the killing of Indian student Abhishek Sudhesh and was immediately arrested, authorities said.
A Sikh girl who went to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur in Pakistan with a religious jatha has gone missing. The girl went missing three days ago.
'Trumped: Emerging Powers in a Post-American World', a new book authored by international affairs academic and commentator Dr. Sreeram Chaulia was launched in the capital on Thursday
An Indian-origin shopkeeper from Kent in south-east England has displayed CCTV images of alleged thieves on his store window after a spate of shoplifting incidents.
