On Friday Russia and its longtime isolated former Soviet satellite ally Belarus kicked off what's being described as Europe's largest military drills in decades, involving up to 200,000 troops - including elite paratroopers - nearly 800 tanks, and 15 warships plus 80 aircraft, according to Russian defense ministry (MoD) figures.
Dubbed 'Zapad-2021' - the exercises are taking place jointly at nine Russian and five Belarusian ranges and bases, with close to 13,000 Russian troops being hosted on Belarusian soil. By comparison, one of NATO's recent and largest exercises in Europe, Trident Juncture 2018, involved only 40,000 troops.
#Footage For the first time Russian #AirborneTroops to airdrop a fully equipped parachute battallion on the latest #BMD4M vehicles during the #Zapad2021 exercise https://t.co/EQWTfACl8R#RussiaBelarus #JointExercises #CombatTraining #StrategicExercises pic.twitter.com/qrpu6ldVl8
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) September 10, 2021
"The objectives of the exercise are to check readiness levels and the Belarusian and Russian military command bodies' ability to jointly ensure military security and territorial integrity," the Russian MoD said in a statement.
The games additionally have the participation of the militaries of Armenia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, the MoD has confirmed.
The drills will test the allied militaries' "interaction during combat operations and letting commanders and staff practice troop management during joint actions in repelling aggression against the Union State," the Russian military added, referencing the agreement going back to 1999 in which the two countries committed to deeper political and economic integration.
#Footage The #Zapad2021 Joint Strategic Exercise kicks off in Russia and Belarus. The drills involving up to 200,000 servicemen from both countries to...