It is not an easy task to attract young people to serve in the army, and the Russian Army is no exception.

That is why, for the second year running, the Russian Ministry of Defence is hosting the International Army Games.

Over the last two weeks, servicemen from 19 countries, including China, India, Venezuela, Iran and Greece have showed off their skills in just about every aspect of military art.

The Army Games are the biggest international military exercise outside NATO.

The geographic spread of competitions is astonishing.


This year snipers were competing at a shooting range in Kazakhstan and mountain brigades climbed the highest peak in Europe, the Elbrus in southern Russia.

Marines raced each other in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea.

Fighter jets and military helicopters took part in Aviation Darts in central Russia and Crimea.

Meanwhile, tank biathlon and armoured personal carrier races attracted thousands of spectators at a shooting range near Moscow.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, 10,000 people visited their conscription office at the Moscow firing ground, many of whom were enlisted.

The Army Games is also a PR campaign for Russian arms, with many teams choosing to compete with Russian tanks, armoured personal carriers and guns.

The military campaign in Syria has already boosted orders for Sukhoi fighter and bomber jets by up to £5bn, according to local media, and Moscow hopes the Army Games will bolster demand even further.

Russian broadcasters avidly follow the progress of the competition, which, unlike the Rio Olympics, is not dogged by finger pointing and doping allegations.

And, at the Army Games, Russia is still leading the table.