Russia's largest post-Soviet military maneuvers near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk received a surprise inspection by President Vladimir Putin Tuesday. Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu took a helicopter ride over the area after watching the exercises from a viewing tower, The Moscow Times reported.

Putin ordered the surprise maneuvers last week. They involve up to 160,000 personnel, some 1,000 tanks and armored vehicles, 130 aircraft and 70 naval ships. The Defense Ministry said the drill in the Eastern Military District is the largest in the country's post-Soviet history. It is designed to test the ability of troops to perform urgent relocation over a distance of more than 1800 miles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, listen to Russia's military's General Staff Valery Gerasimov during military exercise near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, on Sakhalin Island on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/AP Photo/RIA Novosti/Presidential Press Service)

Russian Army helicopters fire flares over Sakhalin Island during military exercises on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/AP Photo/RIA Novosti/Presidential Press Service)

Russian Pacific Navy ships sail near the Sakhalin Island during military exercises on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/AP Photo/RIA Novosti/Presidential Press Service)

Russian Army Su-25 jet fighters fly near the Baikal Lake in Russia on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/AP Photo/RIA Novosti/Presidential Press Service)

Russian Pacific Navy ships sail near the Sakhalin Island during military exercises on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/AP Photo/RIA Novosti/Presidential Press Service)

A Russian Army Engenering tank drives near the Baikal Lake in Russia on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/AP Photo/RIA Novosti/Presidential Press Service)

Russian Army Engenering troops' trucks are parked near the Baikal Lake on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/AP Photo/RIA Novosti/Presidential Press Service)

Russian Army Engenering tanks drive near the Baikal Lake in Russia on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/AP Photo/RIA Novosti/Presidential Press Service)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, uses a binocular, as Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, and chief of Russia's military's General Staff Valery Gerasimov, right, observe military exercises near the Baikal Lake on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/AP Photo/RIA Novosti/Presidential Press Service)

Russian Army tanks move at the Sakhalin Island during military exercises on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/AP Photo/RIA Novosti/Presidential Press Service)