About 95,000 Russian troops and more than 7,000 combat vehicles are taking part in large-scale strategic exercises in the Central Military District (CMD), the Russian Defense Ministry announced on September 14.

"The Center-2015 exercise is the final step in the military preparation of the armed forces throughout 2015," RT news agency quoted a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry.

The joint exercise between the members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is aimed at containing a hypothetical international armed conflict in the Central Asian region, added Colonel General Vladimir Zarudnitsky, commander of the CMD.

According to Sputnik news agency, the Center-2015 exercise, which will last until September 20, will involve 170 aircraft and 20 warships from the CMD, the Caspian Flotilla, airborne troops and other national security agencies.

Deputy Defense Minister, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, General Valery Gerasimov personally commanded the exercise.

“What we are witnessing has not happened since the Cold War – the late 1970s and early 1980s. The military is not only testing new means, equipment and techniques, but also using much larger resources to do this,” military historian Vyacheslav Filatov told Zvezda channel.

Below are some pictures of the exercise taking place at CMD:

According to VNN