Russian news agencies said it was the first time such hardware had been used. MOSCOW — Russia used new combat robots and tactical vehicles on the second day of the active main phase of large military drills with its ex-Soviet ally Belarus, the defense ministry said on Saturday. Article contentNew Sarmat-2 tactical vehicles have also been used, Russian media said. Neighbors such as Ukraine and NATO members Poland and Lithuania say such big exercises so close to the frontier risk being provocative. Russia sees Belarus as a strategically important buffer to its west, and helped to keep Lukashenko in power with loans and political backing while he crushed a popular uprising last year.

Source: National Post September 11, 2021 17:03 UTC