AKIPRESS.COM - The Russian-Mongolian Selenga-2016 military exercises started on Tuesday in Russia's Republic of Buryatia, Sputnik reported referring to the Russia’s Eastern Military District press service.

The Selenga exercise has been carried out annually since 2008, with Russian and Mongolian troops engaging in collaborative field exercises to identify, block and destroy illegal armed groups.

"Opening ceremony of Russian-Mongolian Selenga-2016 military drills took place at Eastern Military District's training facility Burduny in Republic of Buryatia," the message says.

Some 1,000 servicemen and 200 pieces of military equipment from both sides are participating in the drills.