MOSCOW. Sept 12 (Interfax) - The commands and forces of the Central Military District, as well as some commands of the Southern and Eastern Military Districts, will be taking part in the Center 2019 strategic exercises from September 16-21, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin told foreign military attaches at a briefing on Thursday.
"The exercises will involve military commands and forces of the Central Military District, and certain commands of the Southern and Eastern Military Districts, the Airborne Forces, and Long-Rang and Military Transport Aviation," Fomin said.
Military contingents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, China, and Pakistan have been invited to join the exercise, he said.
The Center 2019 exercises will take place both in Russia and in territories of member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The main stage of the drill will be held at the Donguz range in Russia's Orenburg region.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier that the exercises would involve about 128,000 servicemen and over 20,000 pieces of weapons and military hardware.