The Mirror’s reporting on President Vladimir Putin’s reaction to Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov’s briefing is framed as a signal to Western capitals. The article suggests that Putin’s smile communicates that the Russian armed forces will operate as usual, even as Russia pursues its special operation in Ukraine. The Vostok-2022 exercises involve about 50,000 troops, with participants from CSTO members, China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, and Syria.
A video from an observation post at Sergeevsky training ground shows Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reacting with smiles to Yevkurov’s report to Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.
Observers stated that during Vostok-2022, Putin signaled that the Russian military would continue routine operations while contributing to the Ukraine operation.
At the exercise’s conclusion on September 7, Yevkurov described the mission as clearly defined and fully achieved.
“We have a clear understanding of what we must do today and what we must strive for tomorrow to reliably ensure the military security of our states. I believe that the objectives of the exercise have been fully achieved,” he noted.
About Western sinister teachings
The British Daily Express, in an August 31 piece, framed the upcoming drills as a show of close cooperation between Moscow and Beijing and as a response to Western support for Ukraine and Taiwan.
Putin and Xi Jinping are described as potentially mobilizing 50,000 troops within 48 hours, a move portrayed as a looming warning to Western partners.
The article claims Moscow views arms deliveries to Ukraine and Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit as indicators of instability caused by the United States.
It warned that the exercises could formalize a Moscow-Beijing alliance, a prospect highlighted by the piece. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre stated on August 30 that the United States is wary of India joining Russia’s drills in the Far East, while emphasizing that participation decisions lie with the respective countries.
Asked about New Delhi’s role in joint exercises with Moscow, the spokesperson stressed U.S. concern about any nation engaging in drills with Russia.
The Army Times, the American military weekly, published on August 30 a view that the maneuvers strengthen Moscow’s ties with Beijing amid Russia’s Ukraine operation. The piece noted China’s limited response to Russia’s actions and questioned sanctions, while noting Russia’s support for China amid tensions with the United States following Pelosi’s Taiwan visit.
Tensions also surfaced in Tokyo. Officials expressed objections through diplomatic channels, resisting the inclusion of the Kuril Islands in the training area and urging their removal from the exercise scope.
Content of the Exercises
Strategic exercises labeled Vostok-2022 took place from September 1 to 7 across seven training sites in the Eastern Military District. More than 5,000 weapons and pieces of equipment were involved, including 140 aircraft and 60 ships or support vessels. Command groups, military units, and observers from CSTO, the SCO and partner states such as Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Syria, and Tajikistan were engaged.
Alexander Fomin, deputy head of Russia’s Defense Ministry, described the maneuvers as defensive in nature. He emphasized that the scenario focused on phased troop actions to safeguard Russia and its allies within the district’s area of responsibility. He noted that the exercise is not aimed at any specific state or alliance, but is purely defensive.
China contributed more than 2,000 personnel and over 300 pieces of equipment, including ground forces, naval elements, and the Northern Combat Command. The Chinese contingent featured roughly 300 ground vehicles, 21 aircraft and helicopters, and three warships.
On September 6, the corvette Thunder conducted a screen and destroyed a target ship, launching Caliber missiles from beyond 300 kilometers in the Sea of Okhotsk, a move described by the Ministry of Defense as the first of its kind for the Russian Navy.
During the exercises, Pacific Fleet ships and the Chinese Navy together repelled a simulated enemy air attack, launching artillery at aerial targets using standard air defense systems. The detachment also carried out a group launch of missiles from the Iskander-M system to demonstrate firepower superiority, disrupt command and control, and prepare for a second echelon assault on critical targets.