Russian war games raise tensions

Baltic defence officials are urging NATO allies to deepen security co-operation as Zapad-2017, a joint military exercise involving Russian and Belarusian forces, gets underway. NATO’s four multinational battle groups in the Baltic states and Poland are now fully operational


ZAPAD-2017 (Russian official figures)

Total troops: 12,700
(Belarus 7,200, Russia 5,500)

Armoured vehicles (including 200 tanks): 370

Artillery units: 250

Aircraft and helicopters: 70


Some Western analysts believe up to 100,000 troops could be involved


NATO enhanced Forward Presence battlegroups. Total troops: 4,630

1 Tapa
2 Adaži
3 Rukla
4 Orzysz


1 ESTONIA
UK (Lead nation)
Troops
UK 800
France 300
Hungary 100
Total: 1,200

2 LATVIA
Canada
Canada 450
Spain 300
Italy 160
Poland 160
Slovenia 50
Albania 18
Total: 1,138

3 LITHUANIA
Germany
Germany 450
Netherlands 250
Norway 200
Belgium 100
Luxembourg 22
Total: 1,022

4 POLAND
U.S.
U.S. 1,000
UK 150
Romania 120
Total: 1,270


NATO members
Approximate area of military exercise
Sites

FINLAND
Tallinn
ESTONIA
SWEDEN
Riga
LATVIA
LITHUANIA
Kaliningrad (Russia)
GERMANY
POLAND
Warsaw
Vilnius
Minsk
BELARUS
UKRAINE
Kiev
RUSSIA
Moscow

100km 60 miles


Sources: Russian military, IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly
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