Armenia and Russia's Troops Also Participate in the 'West 2021' Military Exercises

On September 9, a solemn ceremony was held at the Mulino Training Ground in Russia to open the 'West 2021' strategic military exercises. Flags of the participating countries and the exercise were raised in the deployment area of the tent camp.

Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia Nikolai Pankov stated that the joint exercises would provide an opportunity to develop unified approaches to troop preparedness, strengthen friendship, and establish new joint traditions of military brotherhood. The general emphasized that the 'West 2021' exercises have a purely defensive nature.

'West 2021' involves military groups from Russia, Armenia, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia. Approximately 200,000 soldiers, around 80 aircraft and helicopters, up to 760 units of various types of armored vehicles, missile systems, and artillery assets, as well as 15 ships are engaged in the exercises taking place in the territories of Russia and Belarus. The main operations of the exercise will take place from September 10 to 16.