MINSK, 13 September (BelTA) – The Russian military aircraft have landed in the Belarusian airfields for the participation in the Zapad 2017 army exercise, BelTA learned from the website of the Defense Ministry.
According to the ministry, “the planes and helicopters of the Western Ministry District of the Russian Armed Forces have relocated to the Belarusian airbases.” Russian military aviators received a warm welcome in Belarus.
The Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017 is scheduled for 14-20 September in Belarus and in Russia (Luzhsky, Strugi Krasnye and Pravdinsky ranges).
As BelTA reported earlier, some 12,700 military personnel will take part in the exercise. About 10,200 personnel will be deployed in Belarus, with Belarus contributing slightly more than 7,000 people and Russia supplying about 3,000 troops. The Belarusian part of the exercise will also involve 370 armored vehicles, including about 140 combat tanks. Up to 150 artillery units and multiple-launch rocket systems, over 40 aircraft and helicopters will be deployed as well.
