More than 1,000 NATO soldiers conduct exercises near the Russian border

The "Fire Thunder - 2016" military exercises will be held in Lithuania from August 1-12 with the participation of more than a thousand servicemen from five NATO countries, mortar shooters from Ukraine, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said on August 1.

Soldiers from five NATO countries and Ukraine conduct exercises in Lithuania, a former Soviet state.

"The exercise will involve about 1,100 soldiers from five NATO countries: Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Portugal, the United States and mortar soldiers from Ukraine. For the first time, Latvia, Germany and Ukraine will participate in the exercise, which is being organized by Lithuania for the fourth time," the country's Ministry of Defense said.

The exercise will take place at three training grounds in Lithuania.