Russia is launching a week-long multi-nations’ sweeping military drills together with forces from China from Sept 1 to demonstrate the world increasingly close defence ties between Moscow and Beijing amid war in Ukraine.
The Vostok 2022 (East 2022) exercise will be held from September 1-7 in various locations in Russia’s Far East and the Sea of Japan involving over 50,000 troops and 5,000 weapons units. About 140 aircraft and 60 warships, according to the Russian defence ministry. Russia, China, India, Syria, Nicaragua, Laos, Mongolia and many ex-Soviet states are participating in the military exercises.
Russia has released a video of Chinese troops arriving in Russia to prepare for the large-scale military maneuvers.
The drills will be conducted at seven firing ranges in far eastern Russia and will engage troops from several ex-Soviet nations, China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua and Syria.
The ministry said units of Russian airborne troops, long-range bombers, and military cargo planes will take part in the drills along with other forces.
While first announcing the exercise last month, the Russian military emphasised it is part of planned combat training that is continuing despite Moscow’s military action in Ukraine. It has not disclosed the number of troops engaged in what the Kremlin calls the “special military operation” there.
The ministry noted as part of the maneuvers, the Russian and Chinese navies in the Sea of Japan will “practice joint action to protect sea communications, areas of marine economic activity and support for ground troops in littoral [coastal] areas”.
“The exercise isn’t directed against any specific countries or military alliances and is purely defensive,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Fomin said at a meeting with foreign military attaches. He specified the naval drills would take part in the northern and central part of the Sea of Japan.
