Russian Zapad 2017 military exercises to respect Vienna document, Kremlin claims

Upcoming military manouevres by the Kremlin in northwestern Russia will not exceed the 2011 Vienna Document limits, the country's defence ministry said.

The so-called Zapad 2017 military exercises in northwestern Russia, Belarus and Kaliningrad would only involve roughly 13,000 troops, the ministry said, according to Interfax.

Tuesday's report came close on the heels of others at the weekend, citing analysts, according to whom as many as 100,000 troops might be involved in what could be a ruse by the Kremlin to pre-position troops and or equipment in Belarus.

Moscow's intention was for the exercises, which were scheduled for between 14-20 September, to be strictly defensive and anti-terrorist in nature, the Russian MoD reportedly added.