Russia and Belarus begin active phase of huge war games

Russian service members attend a ceremony opening the military exercise Zapad-2021 staged by the the armed forces of Russia and Belarus at the Obuz-Lesnovsky training ground in Brest Region, Belarus September 9, 2021. Picture taken September 9, 2021. Vadim Yakubyonok/BelTA/Handout via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and ex-Soviet ally Belarus on Friday launched the active phase of vast military exercises involving 200,000 personnel that have alarmed Ukraine and some NATO nations.

The "Zapad-2021" war games, taking place on Russia's and Belarus's western flanks, are due to run until next Thursday. Moscow released footage of warships and tanks opening fire and fighter jets taking off.