Ukrainian forces storm the Russian front lines in Kherson
The arrival of foreign armies in Russia before the start of joint exercises
A number of Chinese soldiers are among the participants in the "Vostok-2022" maneuvers.
EPA
The arrival of armies from several foreign countries to Russia to conduct exercises with the participation of China began in a context of tension between Western countries, Moscow and China, the Russian army announced yesterday, while Ukrainian forces stormed the Russian front lines in Kherson.
The maneuvers, dubbed "Vostok-2022", are being held from September 1 to 7 in the Russian Far East, in the presence of soldiers from several border countries or allies of Russia, such as Belarus, Syria and India, but especially China.
The maneuvers come in the context of increasing tensions between Russia and Western countries on the one hand due to the conflict in Ukraine, and between China and the United States on the other hand due to the tension in the vicinity of Taiwan.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that foreign military units participating in the "Vostok-2022" exercises arrived at the Sergeevsky training ground in Primorye Krai (in the Far East of Russia), and began to prepare and receive their equipment and weapons.
"More than 50,000 soldiers, more than 5,000 weapons and military equipment, including 140 aircraft, 60 warships and support," she said in a statement.
The Russian ministry did not specify the number of participants from each country.
The exercises, led by the Russian Chief of Staff, include "exercises of defensive and offensive movements" in the field and in the air, but also in the Sea of Japan and in the Sea of Okhotsk, according to the ministry.
In the Sea of Japan, Russian and Chinese ships will train to defend maritime communication and "support ground forces" in coastal areas, according to the same source.
On the other hand, the Kremlin called yesterday on the international community to put "pressure" on the Ukrainian forces to ease tension over the Zaporizhia nuclear plant, which Moscow and Kiev accuse of bombing.
These statements come at a time when the International Atomic Energy Agency announced yesterday that its team is on its way to the Zaporizhia station, and is expected to arrive this week to inspect the station, located in southern Ukraine, which has been controlled by Russian forces since March.
In addition, Ukrainian forces stormed the Russian front lines in the Kherson region in southern Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Hromadsk network yesterday, quoting an army spokesman.
The network quoted a spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine, Natalia Homenyuk, as saying: "The Ukrainian armed forces have started carrying out offensive operations in several sectors in southern Ukraine."
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