Image copyright Mil.ru Symbol caption A Russian tank brigade from the Moscow region is joining the Zapad exercise
Russia and Belarus have introduced a big-scale joint army exercise, known as Zapad-2017, which has made local Nato international locations nervous.
It is one among Russia’s greatest army workouts when you consider that its 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula.
Russia’s defence ministry says approximately 12,SEVEN-HUNDRED troops are collaborating, but Nato expects the numbers to be higher.
The warfare games are beneath approach in and round Belarus, related to armoured devices, warships and airplane.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has warned that Zapad-2017 (Russian for “West”) might be a prelude for an invasion of Ukraine. Kiev has stepped up security on Ukraine’s borders.
The state of affairs for the Zapad-2017 workout is an armed uprising in Belarus by way of “saboteurs” and “terrorists” backed by way of a fictitious country referred to as “Veishnoria”. Russian forces are deployed to Belarus to help overwhelm the rebellion.
The major objective is to integrate the two countries’ military headquarters in a realistic struggle scenario. Belarus is mobilising approximately 7,2 HUNDRED troops and Russia about FIVE,500, Russia’s defence ministry says.
The Russian territory of Kaliningrad – sandwiched among Nato members Poland and Lithuania – is included in the exercise.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has close ties to Russia, although there had been periodic disputes over business.
