World War 3 ready: Russia carries out EXPLOSIVE war games on edge of Europe

shock photos

RUSSIA has carried out explosive war games on the edge of Europe in ominous preparations for World War 3.

By JOEY MILLAR
PUBLISHED: 17:13, Tue, Sep 19, 2017 | UPDATED: 17:21, Tue, Sep 19, 2017

Recent media reports stated that the strategic 'Zapad 2017' military maneuvers of the armed forces of the Russian Federation and Belarus are taking place from 14 to 20 September in Belarus and three military training grounds in Russia

Russian tactic missile Iskander -M EPA1 of 18
Russian tactic missile Iskander -M
Russian tactic missile Iskander -M

Vladimir Putin (L) and Russia's First Deputy Defense Minister, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov attend the main stage of Zapad 2017

A joint military exercise by the armed forces of Russia and Belarus at Luzhsky
Belarus army air defense missile systeme moves during the military exercises
Belarusian military jets fly during military exercises, near the Volka village
A Belarusian military jet pilot hangs on a parachute during a training in an emergency landing
Russia’s military exercises were displayed in terrifying detail in a series of shock photos released today.

Thousands of Russian troops have marched into Europe to carry out the controversial drills in Belarus - with neighbouring countries expressing concerns of alternate motives.

Fears of preparations for an invasion have been dismissed by the Kremlin but observers are concerned Russia is still lying about the true number of troops taking part in the drills.

According to Russian and Belarussian officials, under 13,000 soldiers will take place - a threshold which means international observers do not need to be present.

Russia ZapadEPA
Russia's Zapad drills are causing concerns across Europe and the world
However, experts are concerned a far higher number which actually take part, with some warning as many as 100,000 soldiers could descend on the country.

Photos released today showed the full might of the Russian army, with tanks shown thundering across mock battlefields.

Rockets were also fired at mock targets, exploding into fire and smoke as officials watched on.

In the skies above the battle ground, Russian and Belarusian jets and attack helicopters flew in formation.

NATO chief demands Russian "transparency" ahead of Zapad 2017
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But despite the show of force, the drills have not taken place without controversy - and no small amount of embarrassment for Vladimir Putin.

A terrifying video emerged today showing a military helicopter accidentally opening fire on spectators at one of the drills.

The video clip, published by independent news site Fontanka.ru, showed a helicopter firing a salvo of rockets at a military truck covered in camouflage netting in open countryside, with three vehicles with no military markings visible, parked a few metres away.

READ MORE: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/856177/russia-news-zapad-exercises-world-war-3-attack-putin