MOSCOW, August 11. /ITAR-TASS/. Battalion tactical drills with combat firing have kicked off in five regions of Siberia and the Russian Far East, spokesman for the Eastern Military District, Colonel Alexander Gordeyev said on Monday.

The drills have started in Buryatia and Trans-Baikalia in East Siberia, the Primorye Territory, the Amur and Sakhalin Regions in the Russian Far East.

“Overall, over 2,000 personnel and about 500 pieces of the armor, including over 30 Ka-52, Mi-24, Mi-8AMTSh helicopters and up to 20 Su-25 aircraft, are involved in the drills,” the spokesman said.

The maneuvers, which will be over at the end of the week, will include a two-day gathering for commanders of military units and formations to study new forms and methods for battalion-strong forces to conduct combat operations against illegal armed formations.

The newest electronic warfare stations and drones will be used in the drills, the spokesman said.

Eastern Military District Commander, Colonel-General Sergei Surovikin ordered snap drills for military units in Kamchatka last week to check their combat readiness. The drills involved over 2,000 personnel and about 400 pieces of military equipment, as well as warships and combat aircraft.

Combat aviation stationed near Khabarovsk and troops in the Primorye Territory have been put on alert as part of the combat readiness check in the Eastern Military District.

The military drills have also given a start to field marches by peacekeepers of the Eastern Military District.