Russia begins largest military drill
(VOVWORLD) - The Vostok 2018 exercise, the largest in Russia’s modern history got underway in the Eastern Military District on Tuesday, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters.
 Jets take part in the joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises known as Zapad in 2017. (Sergie Gapon / AFP-Getty Images file) |
Taking part in the drills are approximately 300,000 Russian troops, over 1,000 aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles, up to 36,000 tanks, armored personnel carriers and other vehicles, and up to 80 ships and supply vessels, the Defense Ministry added. The Vostok 2018 exercise will last until next Monday, and is under the supervision of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. According to Chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov, its main purpose is to check the level of training that can be assessed only in an exercise of proper scale.