TALLINN. May 6 (Interfax) - The largest military exercise of the year, Spring Storm, involving about 14,000 troops of Estonia and the allies begins in Estonia on Monday.
"The exercise will practice defensive operations conducted by an Estonian division and the allies and involving other branches and military commands," the Estonian Defense Forces' Staff said.
The training will take place mostly in the Parnu, Laanes and Viljandi counties and the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa on May 6-17.
Alarms for civilians and evacuation from an endangered area will be practiced for the first time.
Spring Storm is the largest annual exercise of the Estonian Defense Forces, which practices planning and accomplishment of military operations and bolsters cooperation between forces of Estonia and the Allies. Servicemen, conscripts and reservists of the allies will take part in the exercise.