Along with China and India: Russia begins major military maneuvers in the East

Along with China and India
Russia begins major military maneuvers in the East

09/01/2022, 07:18 am

Despite the fighting in Ukraine, Moscow is allowing 50,000 soldiers to take part in a major exercise in the east of the country. Russia is also trying to join forces with China and India.

In the midst of the war in Ukraine, Russia has launched large-scale military maneuvers with more than 50,000 troops. The nearly week-long exercise will take place at military training areas in eastern Siberia and the Far East, as well as in the Sea of ​​Japan, thousands of kilometers away from the fighting.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, countries such as China, India and Mongolia are also involved, as well as several former Soviet republics, with Belarus leading the charge. With this, Russia wants to show solidarity with other countries in times of intense tension with the West.

According to information from Moscow, 5,000 military vehicles, 140 aircraft and 60 warships and other boats are to be used in the exercises “Vostok 2022” – German “East 2022”. The exercise will take place in military training areas in Eastern Siberia and the Far East, as well as in the Sea of ​​Japan.

In 2018, 300,000 Russian soldiers participated

Above all, the involvement of China and India in this maneuver drew the attention of the West. Relations between the world’s two most populous nations and nuclear powers have soured since a military incident on their shared border in the Himalayas killed several people two years ago.

India’s participation is significant as it has maintained neutrality in the Ukraine conflict in recent months and has maintained good relations with the West and Russia. On the one hand, most of India’s military equipment comes from Russia, on the other hand, India is part of the Indo-Pacific security alliance Quad along with the US, Japan and Australia. In this mixed situation, India has backed off with official statements on military exercises.

“Vostok” exercises also took place earlier. Almost 300,000 Russian soldiers took part in the most complex edition to date in 2018, as well as Mongolian and Chinese divisions.