Moscow mobilizes nearly 300,000 troops for largest international exercise in history

Soldiers of Russia's Southern Military District. Photo: Sputnik

This will be the largest event in the modern history of Russian armed forces exercises, with the participation of 300,000 soldiers.

In a statement on September 11, the Russian Defense Ministry emphasized: "The Vostok-2018 exercise has opened in Russia's Far East. This exercise is of international significance as Chinese and Mongolian soldiers will also participate in one of the stages of this event."

Nearly 300,000 servicemen, 36,000 tanks, armored vehicles and other vehicles, more than 1,000 aircraft and 80 warships will take part in the event, which is said to be Russia's largest military exercise since the Zapad exercises in 1981.

The Russian military will showcase its latest weapons during the drills, including nuclear-capable Iskander missiles, T-80 and T-90 tanks, and Su-34 and Su-35 fighter jets.

At sea, the Russian fleet will deploy several small frigates equipped with Kalibr missiles, which have been used in Syria. The purpose of the Vostok-2018 exercise, which will take place from September 11 to 17, is to test the combat skills of Russia's land, air and sea forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will inspect the exercise. Photo: AP

President Vladimir Putin will attend Vostok-2018 after hosting the Eastern Economic Forum in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, where Chinese President Xi Jinping was one of the prominent guests.

The exercise comes amid escalating tensions between Moscow and the West over accusations of Russian interference in Western affairs and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.

Russia's international exercise also coincided with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Rapid Trident 2018 exercise, held in Ukraine from September 3-15. NATO said that Vostok-2018 "demonstrates that Russia is focused on launching a large-scale conflict"./.