MOSCOW, August 13./ITAR-TASS/. Russian Airborne Troops and Belarusian Special Operations Forces will hold joint exercises in Russia’s north-western Pskov region to hone their skills in seizing and destroying simulated enemy bases, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

Servicemen of the Belarusian Special Operations Forces arrived in Pskov on Tuesday. Together with a unit of Russia’s 76th Airborne Division they will take part in a two-stage command and staff exercise, the ministry said.

Airborne Troops spokesperson, Major Irina Kruglova said earlier that about 3,000 paratroopers would be airdropped from 17 Il-76 transport planes in two districts of the Pskov region on August 11-16. This is the first time so many troops would be participating in an airborne landing operation in unknown terrain.

Participating in the exercises will be over 30 aircraft and helicopters, including Su-34 frontline bombers, and Ka-52, Mi-28, Mi-24, and Mi-8 helicopters.