It is one of Russia’s biggest military exercises since its 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula.
Russia’s defence ministry says about twelve thousand seven hundred troops are participating, but Nato expects the numbers to be higher.
The war games are under way in and around Belarus, involving armoured units, warships and aircraft.
Ukrainian President PETRO POROSHENKO has warned that Zapad-2017 also known as “Russian for “West” could be a prelude for an invasion of Ukraine.
In the meantime; Kiev has stepped up security on Ukraine’s borders.
