Free Republic

The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced that its “Vostok 18” military exercises, billed as the largest since 1981, have begun, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin will personally attend the exercises on Thursday. According to Army General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff, the exercise will run from September 11 to 17, with the first two days reserved for planning. He added that it will reportedly involve around 297,000 personnel; more than 1,000 aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles; up to 36,000 tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and other military equipment; as well as 80...