Moscow  - The Russian military began on Monday major military maneuvers in the North Caucasus, state media reported.

The exercises involve some 8,500 troops and 200 tanks, and come amid continued military tensions following the August 2008 war between Russia and Georgia, and a rise in separatist violence in the Russian republic of Ingushetia.

"The aim of the exercises is to assess the combat readiness of the forces," military spokesman Andrei Bobrun said, according to the news agency Interfax.

The maneuvers, entitled Caucasus 2009, are to last until July 6, and are the largest Russian military exercies since the Georgia war. They are expected to strengthen the Kremlin's fight against Islamist militants in the region.

The recent assassination attempt on Ingushetia President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov has led Medvedev to demand a "retaliatory strike" against Islamist rebels.

However the Georgian government has expressed its concern that in fact the exercises are part of Kremlin preparations for a new strike against its territory.(dpa)