Russia: Sukhoi Su-25 jets take centre stage at Russo-Belarusian drills

The ground shook with explosions as the second-stage of the joint Russo-Belarusian drills got underway, in the Leningrad region on Monday. The drills are taking place at the Kirillovsky firing ground and are being overseen by Belarusian Chief of the General Staff Oleg Belokone. Over seven thousand Russian troops and one thousand Belarusian troops are taking part in the exercises. As well as ground troops, the country's respective artillery division were involved, with the multiple rocket launcher systems the BM-21 Grad and the BM-27 Uragan taking part in a mock offensive. The rocket launcher systems were supported by Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters and Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets. The main goal of the drills is to check the readiness of the connections between headquarters, as well as to run the rule over the ability of military units to carry out protective tasks to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Russia and Belarus.