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Steel march: Putin reviews troops & armor on parade during massive military drills (PHOTO, VIDEO) Steel march: Putin reviews troops & armor on parade during massive military drills (PHOTO, VIDEO)
(about 9 hours later)
President Putin opened a spectacular troop review that saw Russian and Chinese armor, troops and warplanes parade through a training ground in Siberia. The parade was part of the Vostok 2018 exercise, the biggest in decades. Hundreds of heavy military assets moved through a training ground in Siberia as Russian and Chinese forces staged a joint troop review amid the massive Vostok 2018 war games. The event was attended by President Vladimir Putin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on Thursday to observe the main part of the Vostok 2018 war games, in which Russian, Chinese, and Mongolian troops trained defensive and offensive operations. Scores of tanks, heavy artillery, missile systems and combat jets have been involved, as well as thousands of soldiers and officers. Tanks, heavy artillery, missile systems and combat jets took part in the impressive display of power as they marched through the Russian Army’s Tsugol training range. The array of military hardware gave a glimpse into the true scale of the Vostok 2018 drills, which have already been called the largest such exercises since the 1980s.
President Putin also opened a grand parade at the Russian Army’s Tsugol training range and praised the troops for their performance in the military exercise. He reiterated, however, that the display of military might is not directed against anyone, as Russia seeks “constructive partnership.” The troop review started with light armored jeeps carrying both Russian and Chinese flags through the parade grounds, followed by four fighter jets flying above. Dozens of Russian Army BMP-2 fighting vehicles came next, making way for an array of armored machines, including the BTR-82, Tiger and Typhoon personnel carriers.
The troop review started with light armored jeeps carrying both Russian and Chinese flags through the parade grounds, followed by four fighter jets flying over the area.  The ground combat vehicles were accompanied by groups of attack helicopters flying over the training range. A pack of tactical bombers and fighter jets also made spectacular fly-pasts during the parade. The Russian aircraft were joined by several Chinese Xian JH-7 bombers and Z-19 attack helicopters.
Dozens of Russian Army BMP-2 fighting vehicles came next, making way for an array of armored machines, including the BTR-82, Tiger and Typhoon personnel carriers. T-72B3 tanks, derived from the T-72 family, followed, accompanied by Chinese Type 99 tanks and Type 08 fighting vehicles. All the vehicles that took part in the parade also participated in the drills.
T-72B3 tanks, derived from the T-72 family, followed, accompanied by Chinese Type 99 tanks and Type 08 fighting vehicles. Both Russia and China also displayed their heavy self-propelled guns. Russia’s Msta-S 152mm self-propelled howitzers were followed by China’s PLZ-07 122mm self-propelled artillery platforms.
Russian Iskander-M tactical missiles, TOS-1 flamethrowers, as well as Tornado multiple launch rocket systems were also seen in the parade. The list of the military equipment that took part in the parade included the medium-range Buk-M2 anti-aircraft systems as well as Iskander-M tactical missiles and Tornado multiple launch rocket systems.
Russia’s unique TOS-1A heavy flamethrower systems dubbed ‘Solntsepek’ (Sun Scorch) also took part in the parade. Mounted on a T-72 chassis, this system is capable of effectively hitting a potential enemy in almost any fortified structure at a distance of 6km.
Putin, who arrived on Thursday to observe the main part of the Vostok 2018 war games, opened the parade and awarded medals to Russian and Chinese officers who stood out during the drills as the troop review came to a close.
Held between September 11 and September 17, the Vostok 2018 drills have seen troops from Russia, China, and Mongolia hone their skills in conventional warfare in the east of Russia. The forces of the three states trained specifically to coordinate their actions in joint offensive and defensive operations. The Russian Navy also trained in the Sea of Japan, the Bering Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk.
READ MORE: 300k troops & thousands of war machines: Russia starts biggest military drill in decades (VIDEO)READ MORE: 300k troops & thousands of war machines: Russia starts biggest military drill in decades (VIDEO)
A pack of helicopters, tactical bombers, and fighter jets made spectacular fly-pasts at the end of the parade. The Russian aircraft were joined by several Chinese Xian JH-7 bombers and Z-19 attack helicopters. The exercise involves around 300,000 Russian soldiers, including 6,000 airborne troops, more than 1,000 warplanes, helicopters and drones, about 36,000 armored vehicles, and 80 combat and support ships. To ensure full transparency, the Russian Defense Ministry invited 87 observers from 57 countries to the event.
As the parade came to a close, Putin awarded medals to Russian and Chinese officers who stood out during the drills.
Vostok 2018 is the largest military exercise held by Russia in over three decades. The drills have seen troops from Russia, China, and Mongolia hone their skills in conventional warfare in the east of Russia. The Russian Navy also trained in the Sea of Japan, the Bering Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk.
The exercise involves around 300,000 Russian soldiers, including 6,000 airborne troops, over 1,000 warplanes, helicopters and drones, about 36,000 armor, and 80 combat and support ships. To ensure full transparency, the Russian Defense Ministry invited 87 observers from 57 countries to the event.
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