Russian army holds major military training

Large-scale military exercises, named East 2010, are underway in Russia's Far East. With thousands of troops and hundreds of armored vehicles involved, this is the most important exercise of the year for Russia’s army.

The ten-day maneuvers kicked off on June 29. The exercises have brought together the country’s air force, border patrol, navy and ground forces in Russia’s Far East. Participants in the maneuvers may number tens of thousands of servicemen some days, reports news agency Itar Tass, quoting a source in the Defense Ministry.

Some of the missions are purely military assignments while others are counter-terrorist missions carried out along with Interior and Emergency Ministry Units.

Russia’s Chief of General Staff Gen Makarov, who personally supervises the exercises, said earlier that the exercises are not aimed against any country or any military and political alliance. Their aim is only defensive, to ensure the security and defense of national interests of the state on the Far Eastern borders.