Russian and Kyrgyz troops take part in the Issyk-Kul Antiterror 2018 military drills in the Edelweiss training area in Balykchi, some 200 km from Bishkek, on September 26, 2018. (AFP PHOTO)

MOSCOW, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Selenga 2018 Russian-Mongolian military drills kicked off Tuesday in the eastern Siberian Republic of Buryatia, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The annual drills involve over 1,000 troops, including 500 servicemen from Mongolia, and up to 200 pieces of military equipment, namely infantry combat vehicles, armored personnel carriers, tanks, multiple rocket launchers and mortars, it said.

During the active phase of the exercise, the troops of the two countries will simulate jointly fighting terrorists in coordination with a tactical airborne assault force.

The drills will last till Oct. 12.