The Russian Airborne Forces will hold large-scale military drills in the North Pole area next year, Airborne Forces representative, Lieutenant Colonel Yevgeny Meshkov said.

"In the first six months of 2016, the Airborne Forces intend to airlift a large number personnel and cargo to the Arctic (North Pole area)," Rossiya Segodnya reported, citing Meshkov.

This year the Airborne Forces jointly with the Russian Geographical Society have held comprehensive special rescue operations training on Arctic islands.

According to Yevgeny Meshkov, the drills will be held jointly with experts from the Expedition Center of the Russian Geographical Society and the military airlift unit of the Russian Aerospace Forces.