Mongolia and Russia Join Forces for Military Training

MONGOLIA and Russia hold a joint peacekeeping training exercise beginning November 1 in Mongolia.

The month-long exercise, codenamed “Darkhan 1,” is aimed at enhancing the peacekeeping capability and the equipment of the nation’s armed forces.

Some 250 Mongolian soldiers and 450 Russian soldiers will take part in the 30-day activity.
“Russia will offer more than US$2.6 million for Mongolia’s armed forces to maintain the equipment, including military vehicles, armored cars and the equipment of artillery and communication,” a defense officer told Chinese news service Xinhua.

“No ammunition in Russia’s military equipment will be used in the exercise in Mongolia,” the officer added.

This was the first joint military exercise between Mongolia and Russia since the breakup of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.

Mongolia has been an active participant in international peacekeeping operations during recent years. In 2003, Mongolia and the United States jointly held the first “Khan Quest” peacekeeping exercise in Mongolia. In 2008, some 360 soldiers from five countries took part in this annual exercise.

Ch.Sumiyabazar
Sunday, November 30, 2008.