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Largest military drill in 2015 kicks off in Russia

Xinhua, September 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

Russia's largest military drill in 2015, the Center-2015, kicked off on Monday, the country's Defense Ministry said.

A total of 95,000 troops with more than 7,000 artillery pieces and combat vehicles, 170 aircraft and 20 warships will participate in the strategic command and staff exercises, the ministry said.

"This is the final stage of operational and combat training in 2015 of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, as well as the armed forces of the states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)," an online ministry statement said.

The week-long drill would focus on the coalition and coordination in controlling international armed conflicts, blocking and destroying illegal armed groups in the course of joint special operations, the statement said.

With the participation of units of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, the drills are expected to test the readiness of the armed forces of CSTO, an intergovernmental military alliance grouping six post-Soviet states, including Russia and Kazakhstan.

The exercises will involve troops stationed in the Central Military District, the Caspian Flotilla, units of airborne forces and transport aviation.

Prior to the Center-2015 exercises, Russia's Central Military District troops have just finished a snap inspection with massive transfer of personnel and hardware over long distances.

Government departments are also involved including the Russian Interior Ministry, the Federal Security Service, the Federal Protection Service and the Federal Drug Control Service, the statement added. Endi