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Russia is under US and EU sanctions over its aggressive policies in Ukraine, and budget pressures have forced the Kremlin to radically scale back its production of high-end weaponry.
But from August 1 to 15, Russia will still get to showcase its military might.
The International Army Games, which are taking place outside of Moscow, are Russia's way of strengthening military cooperation with 16 countries during a time of increased international isolation for Moscow, while also showcasing the country's sizable arms industry.
Given the frosty relations between Russia and the West following the Ukraine crisis, the list of the countries participating in the games are not entirely surprising, as they're mostly Russian neighbors, traditional allies, or states with notably independent-minded foreign policies.
The countries invited to the International Army Games include: Azerbaijan, Angola, Armenia, Belarus, China, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Serbia, Tajikistan, and Venezuela.
Here are some of the most impressive images from the military games.
One of the main events of the International Army Games is the Tank Biathlon.
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The biathlon took place across varied terrain in order to simulate a number of battle scenarios.
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Here, an Indian tank emerges from the water during the biathlon.
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See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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