MOSCOW. Aug 19 (Interfax) - The military exercise Defenders of Friendship 2019 involving servicemen from Russia, Egypt and Belarus will take place in the Ryazan region on August 19-29, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
"Paratroopers from the three countries will practice joint actions to prepare and use a coalition tactical force in performing counter-terrorist duties during the exercise," the ministry said.
According to the ministry, over 1,000 servicemen in total, including some 650 Russian paratroopers, 150 members of the Egyptian Armed Forces, and 250 Belarusian Armed Forces troops, as well as more than 100 items of military equipment, will be involved in the exercise.
"A preparatory stage of the exercise will begin at the Dubrovichi range in the Ryazan region on August 20, it will involve coordination of units and exercises in tactical, airborne-mission and firearms training. An active phase of the drill will begin on August 27-28," the Defense Ministry said.