The Indian contingent demonstrated its superb battle drills and excellent firing skills

Exercise ZAPAD-2021, a seven-day multilateral Joint Strategic Exercise aimed at enhancing military and strategic ties amongst the participating nations, culminated in Russia on Wednesday.

The exercise saw participation from seven countries and included a 200-personnel contingent from India.

As part of the exercise, strategic planning, tactical actions and manoeuvres were rehearsed and executed jointly in conventional operational scenarios, India's ministry of defence noted.

The Joint Strategic Exercise included defensive and offensive manoeuvres by the Coalition Forces to restore territorial integrity under simulated combat conditions, it added.

The closing ceremony held at the Mulino Training Ground in the Novgorod Region of Russia conducted on Wednesday highlighted the importance of joint military training and close defence cooperation amongst the Contingents, said the defence ministry in a statement.

The grand ceremony was presided over by Deputy Defence Minister of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Yunus-Bek Evkurov. He expressed his gratitude to the members of all participating contingents and observers.

During the exercise, the Indian contingent demonstrated its superb battle drills and excellent firing skills at the rehearsals. On Sunday, the Indian Army contingent participating in the exercise carried out a joint rehearsal of Special Heliborne Operation for the final validation exercise of Zapad2021.

“#Indian Army contingent participating in Multi Nation Exercise #ZAPAD2021 carried out a joint rehearsal of Special Heliborne Operation #SHBO for the final validation Exercise of #ZAPAD2021,” the ADGPI had twitted on Sunday.

https://twitter.com/adgpi/status/1437016197820821504?s=20

According to the defence ministry, new generation weapon systems and equipment were also demonstrated by Russian Armed Forces during the exercise.

Besides military training and exercise, the participating contingents showcased their skills in a number of extra-curricular & sports activities including Football, Volleyball, Kettle Bell lifting, Arm Wrestling, Tug of War and the cultural program, it said.

The exercise has promoted synergy and inter-operability amongst the Armed Forces, and will help in forging closer military ties between the nations, the statement mentioned.

All contingent commanders expressed immense satisfaction in the conduct of the joint exercise in terms of standards achieved and lessons learnt, it stated.