AKIPRESS.COM - Representatives of Russia's Eastern Military District (EMD) and the Mongolian Armed Forces have chosen reconnaissance operations and illegal armed groups elimination to be practiced at the upcoming Selenga-2016 joint Russian-Mongolian military exercises, the head the EMD's press service said Monday, reports Sputnik International.

"At the second round of consultations on planning the joint Russian-Mongolian Selenga-2016 exercises, the subject of the practical part of the drill was defined. A joint group of troops will practice conducting reconnaissance and search operations in a designated area, as well as blocking and eliminating simulated illegal armed groups," Alexander Gordeev told reporters.

The first round of consultations was held in early February. The sides previously agreed to hold the drills between August 29 and September 7 at the Burduny training range in Buryatia, with some 2,000 service personnel taking part in total. The final round of consultations is due to be held in July.

The EMD will send a tank battalion, a motorized infantry squadron, mortar, self-propelled howitzer and missile divisions, as well as air defense and reconnaissance units, the spokesman said, adding that Mongolia will send an infantry battalion task force, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, T-72 tanks, BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher systems, mortars and ZSU-23-4 Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

The Selenga-2016 will be the ninth joint exercise between Mongolia and Russia since 2008.