VOSTOK-2018 ~ Massive Russian Exercise Announced

Russia plans to involve some 300,000 troops in the VOSTOK 2018 drills, a Russian Defence Minister stated during his working visit to the Central Military District.

 

Press Release, 28th August 2018: General of the Army Sergei Shoigu noted that this will be the biggest exercises since 1981. According to him, the VOSTOK 2018 (Восток-2018) drills traditionally start with a number of preparatory measures – some 15 special support exercises.

 

“As a rule, it goes together with a surprise combat inspection announced by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, which has become a good practice”, the head of the military department stressed.

 

“Imagine that 36,000 pieces of hardware are operating simultaneously – tanks, armoured personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and all of them are tests in environment closely resembling a combat one,” Sergei Shoigu stated.

 

Footnote: On 21st August Russia announced that “the first four echelons, with military equipment and servicemen, of China’s People’s Liberation Army arrived in Transbaikal to participate in Vostok-2018 large-scale exercises. About 120 units of military and special equipment arrived in the military echelons.

 

“After unloading, some of the military equipment has already marched to the Tsugol training ground for field camp equipment. During the march the Chinese Army column was accompanied by Military Police units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.”