Russia is going to fly strategic nuclear bombers to the middle of the Pacific Ocean to war game a battle with a Western enemy.
The move is part of drills now underway involving Vladimir Putin’s Pacific Fleet.
Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu informed the Russian leader about the exercises.
"Strategic missile carriers will fly to the central part of the Pacific Ocean to imitate strikes on ship groups of a mock enemy," he said.
He did not say which type of strategic bombers would fly on the mission.
As usual Shoigu read from a pre-prepared script rather than addressing Putin off the cuff.
Putin told the defence minister in a face-to-face meeting that the Ukraine war must not stop Russia flexing its muscles elsewhere.
"We obviously have clear priorities for the use of the Armed Forces," he said.
"First of all, this concerns the Ukrainian direction and everything related to the protection of our people in the Donbas and in other new [invaded] territories.
"But the tasks of developing the fleet, including in the Pacific theatre, have not been halted or removed."
Putin asked Shoigu to pay attention to the development and preparation of similar events in other fleets, while continuing with the war.
"The forces of the fleet - in its individual components - can certainly be used in various conflicts," he continued.
"So I ask you to keep this in mind, too.
"I am aware both the Ministry [of Defence] and the General Staff are doing this, I know."
Putin ordered his Pacific Fleet to launch the surprise war games on Friday, to test their readiness for a retaliatory nuclear strike on the West.
The Pacific’s Fleet’s firepower has been seen as Moscow’s main weapon in retaliatory strikes since Soviet times.
Based on naval base Vladivostok, the war games were expected to involve the firing of missiles and testing the readiness of nuclear-capable strategic bombers as well as the fleet’s submarines.
The exercise also had more limited objectives such as repelling supposed enemy attacks on Sakhalin island and the Kuril chain north of Japan.
It comes after Russia suspended peace talks with Japan last year, to protest Tokyo's sanctions against Moscow over its action in Ukraine.
