RUSSIA’S annual display of military muscle has gone off with a bang as it hosts at the International Army Games in Siberia.
Russia is hosting the third annual International Army Games
Taking place in the city of Tyumen, the games feature a range of army disciplines, including the Tank Biathlon, largely regarded as the main event.
It involves tank crews driving an armoured vehicle across a 5k obstacle course while shooting at targets.
With less than a week to go before the games close on August 12, the hosts are currently topping the league table, leading in 11 of the 22 disciplines on offer.
Other disicplines include air manouvres, offroad truck racing and even a cooking competition for army chefs.
Typically for a country led by a man regularly photographed hunting with his shirt off, Russian media described the games as a contest for “real men”.
Tanks in action at the International Army Games
Soldiers in a race against the clock
THere are 28 countries taking part in the annual military display
Since being launched by the Russian Defence Ministry three years ago, no country signed up to Nato has taken part in the war games.
Although Moscow says the invitation is open to anyone to compete, a Nato spokesman told Newsweek: “Military games are no substitute for proper transparency and confidence-building measures – such as OSCE observation of military exercises, which Russia routinely avoids.”
Russia is currently leading the rankings with 11 victories
None of the countries taking part are NATO members
Russia has described the event as a contest for “real men”
Earlier this month thousands of highly trained Russian seaman clutched assault rifles as gigantic submarines emerged from the water in a show of force ordered by the Russian President.
Fighter jets soared above the heads of thousands who filled the streets of Saint Petersburg to celebrate Navy Day as Mr Putin oversaw the fleet in Sevastopol.-Express