In Pictures: Putin Inspects Massive Russian War Games Sep 13, 2018 - 12:48 pm The Vostok-2018 drills taking place in eastern Siberia involve 300,000 Russian troops and will include joint exercises with the Chinese army. Kremlin.ru "This is the first time our army and fleet have undergone such a difficult and large-scale test," Putin said in comments published on the Kremlin website. Kremlin.ru The exercises also involve over a thousand military aircraft as well as up to 36,000 tanks. Kremlin.ru At the games, President Vladimir Putin promised to strengthen the army and supply it with new generation weapons. Kremlin.ru The games come amid tense relations between Russia and the West that have fallen to a post-Cold War low. Kremlin.ru The games are Russia's biggest since the fall of the Soviet Union. Kremlin.ru Putin told soldiers that Russia was a peaceful country ready for cooperation with any state interested in partnership, but that it was a soldier's duty to be ready to defend his country and its allies. Kremlin.ru "We are going to further strengthen our armed forces, supply them with the latest generations of weapons and equipment and develop international military partnership," Putin said. Kremlin.ru Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Defense More image galleries In Photos: The New Year’s Traditions of Russia’s Indigenous Peoples Indigenous and minority communities have made an effort to revive their ancestral traditions of greeting the new year since the Soviet collapse. 1 Min read In Photos: The Images That Defined Russia in 2025 Russia in 2025 was shaped by extremes of weather, war and political control and the moments of uneasy normality that persisted alongside them. 1 Min read In Photos: The Works of Conceptual Artist Erik Bulatov Bulatov was a leading figure of the Soviet pop art scene, bending figurative imagery with slogans and text to challenge state propaganda. 1 Min read In Photos: Muscovites Celebrate Halloween in Defiance of Officials Although officials and the Russian Orthodox Church discourage it, many Muscovites celebrated the holiday anyway. 1 Min read
In Pictures: Putin Inspects Massive Russian War Games Sep 13, 2018 - 12:48 pm The Vostok-2018 drills taking place in eastern Siberia involve 300,000 Russian troops and will include joint exercises with the Chinese army. Kremlin.ru "This is the first time our army and fleet have undergone such a difficult and large-scale test," Putin said in comments published on the Kremlin website. Kremlin.ru The exercises also involve over a thousand military aircraft as well as up to 36,000 tanks. Kremlin.ru At the games, President Vladimir Putin promised to strengthen the army and supply it with new generation weapons. Kremlin.ru The games come amid tense relations between Russia and the West that have fallen to a post-Cold War low. Kremlin.ru The games are Russia's biggest since the fall of the Soviet Union. Kremlin.ru Putin told soldiers that Russia was a peaceful country ready for cooperation with any state interested in partnership, but that it was a soldier's duty to be ready to defend his country and its allies. Kremlin.ru "We are going to further strengthen our armed forces, supply them with the latest generations of weapons and equipment and develop international military partnership," Putin said. Kremlin.ru Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Defense