The photo published by the Russian Defense Ministry on October 21, 2019 shows a serviceman's participation in a special exercise in the framework of the joint operational and strategic drills "Combat Brotherhood-2019" at a Belarusian training ground.
Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Belarus will also participate in the drills.
MOSCOW, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Indestructible Brotherhood 2019 military drills will begin on Monday at the Harb-Maidon training ground in Tajikistan, the Russian Defense Ministry has said in a statement.
Over 2,000 troops, more than 600 units of weapons and military hardware, as well as almost 20 warplanes and helicopters will be involved in the military exercises, the statement said.
The drills will be held in two stages. During the first stage, the rapid deployment forces of the Central Asian Region will carry out a counter-terrorist operation to destroy and block militant groups and illegal armed formations.
Troops from Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan will take part in the first stage of the exercise.
At the second stage, the CSTO peacekeeping forces will carry out an operation to maintain peace in the Central Asian region through collective security.
Here, the participants will be joined by military contingents from Armenia and Belarus.
The drills will proceed until Saturday.
The CSTO is a Russia-led military alliance created in 1992, grouping the six former Soviet republics of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, with the aim of safeguarding peace and stability in Eurasia. ■
