MOSCOW, September 21. /TASS/. Russia has launched the Kavkaz-2020 strategic drills on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry informed, noting that in total, over 80,000 people are involved in the drills.

The ministry informed that the strategic drills Kavkaz-2020 would take place at several training grounds of the Southern Military District.

Fighter jets of Russia’s Southern Military District are on combat duty within the framework of the Kavkaz-2020 drills that started on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service informed.

"Crews of Su-27 and Su-30SM fighter jets of the Southern Military District are on combat air defense duty at operative airfields in the Republic of Crimea, the Krasnodar, Stavropol and Rostov Regions within the strategic command post drills Kavkaz-2020," the ministry informed.

About 80,000 people will be involved in the drills, the ministry stated.

Along with Russia, military units from Armenia, Belarus, China, Myanmar and Pakistan will be involved in the exercises. No more than 1,000 foreign troops will take part in the drills. Representatives of Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka will act as observers.

The Kavkaz-2020 exercise will be held from September 21 to 26 on the territory of the Southern Military District, in Black and Caspian seas under the direction of Chief of the Russian General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov. Up to 12,900 servicemen will take place in episodes covered by the Vienna Document of the Negotiations on Confidence and Security-Building Measures of 2011.