Russia, Belarus begin second stage of joint military exercises

The armed forces of Russia and Belarus have started the second stage of their joint military drills, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday. The Zapad-2013 (or West-2013) strategic exercises are being conducted in both countries at five locations. They are scheduled to conclude Sept. 26. The first stage of the Zapad-2013 started on Sept. 20. In Russian territory, drills took place in two locations: in the western enclave of Kaliningrad, and in the Baltic Sea. The joint Russian-Belorussian forces underwent training detect, block and destroy an armed group of militants. Nearly 12,000 Russian troops, as well as warships, tanks and combat aircraft, participate in the drills. The biennial exercises of the joint armed forces have been held since 2009. Previous strategic Russian-Belorussian exercises were held in Central Russia's Nizhni Novgorod region in 2009.