The Russian Baltic Fleet carried out military drills in the Baltic Sea, while maneuvers by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) were underway, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.

As part of the combat training activities, the crew of the coastal defense Bal and Bastion missile systems worked out their transfer and deployment at the firing positions for combat operations against the surface ships of a simulated enemy, the ministry said in a statement.

During the exercise, the crew fulfilled the tasks of checking the performance of the coastal missile systems, including their loading and unloading, it added.

The BALTOPS 2019 exercises started on Sunday involving about 50 ships and submarines and 40 aircraft, and will run through June 21.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Monday that its Baltic Fleet would monitor NATO naval drills in the Baltic Sea.