Russia deploys ten times declared number of troops for West-2017 military exercise in Belarus

The total number of troops to take part in the West-2017 joint Belarus/Russia military exercise in Belarus is estimated at 230-240 thousand or ten times the officially declared amount, chief of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council Oleksandr Turchynov says. Originally, the organizers declared that 13,000 troops, including 3,000 from Russia, 280 heavy weapons and 25 aircraft are to be involved.

However, the actual number of troops reaches 230-240 thousand, 10,000 heavy weapons, 100 aircraft, and 40 vessels and submarines, Turchynov says.The exercise will take 2 months.

The exercise will cover the European part of Russia, Donbas and Crimea as well as the Mediterranean and Syria, he says. Apart from the troops, Russia’s executive structures, Russian Guard, police and FSB will take part.

The military will assume control of railways in the area.

Russia’s cyber troops will also be involved, Oleksandr Turchynov says.

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