Armenia is participating in the Zapad (West) 2021 military exercise held every four years by Russian and Belarussian forces in Russia’s Western Military District and in Belarus.

According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, troops from India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia are also participating in the seven-day exercise described as defensive in nature by Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov.

A ministry statement did not specify the scope of Armenia’s participation.