Russia said today it had carried out air defense exercises in the Moscow region to protect its critical infrastructure in the event of "air attacks", AFP reported, noting that it was taking place against the backdrop of the conflict with Ukraine.

"In the Moscow region, a training exercise was held with the personnel of the anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Western Military District (ZVO) to cover air attacks against important military, industrial and administrative facilities," said a statement of the press service of the ZVO published on the website of the Ministry of Defense and quoted by TASS.

According to the ministry, Russian soldiers practiced using S-300 anti-aircraft missiles.

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"Over 150 military personnel and more than 30 units of weapons, military and special equipment" took part in the exercise, the department specifies.

However, the Ministry of Defense did not specify when the exercise took place.

Asked whether Russia feared Moscow could become a target, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov yesterday declined to answer, referring the matter to the defense ministry.

In recent months, Russia has become the target of several attacks, for which it blames Ukraine - from sabotage to drone strikes and artillery shelling of border areas, recalled AFP, quoted by BTA.