MOSCOW. Sept 8 (Interfax) - Over 500 Russian troops operating tanks and artillery systems are taking part in an exercise on the Kuril Islands, the Eastern Military District press service said on Wednesday.
"In all, the anti-saboteur tactical exercise involves over 500 servicemen of the Eastern Military District's Army Corps and about 50 pieces of combat and special hardware," the press service said.
According to the press service, unmanned aerial vehicles will reconnoiter the terrain, and crews of self-propelled artillery systems will mount combined attacks on surface targets imitating landing ships of the mock enemy.
"At the final stage of the exercise, crews of T-72B tanks and Giatsint self-propelled artillery systems will fire at targets imitating troops and lightly armored vehicles of the mock enemy," the press service said.
Japan lays claims to four South Kuril Islands - Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai - on the basis of the 1855 Treaty of Commerce and Navigation. Moscow says that the South Kuril Islands were incorporated into the Soviet Union as a result of WWII, and Russia's sovereignty over those islands is recognized by international legal documents and is beyond doubt.