MOSCOW --- Seven member-states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have started air defense drills involving up to 100 planes, including strategic bombers, on Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry press service told journalists. 
 

MOSCOW -- About 2,500 troops of the four member-countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization will participate in the joint tactical exercise Rubezh-2018 in Tajikistan in the autumn, the press-service of the Central Military District said on Thursday. 

Russia and Kyrgyzstan are discussing the possible establishment of another Russian military base in Kyrgyzstan, amid a renewed Russian emphasis on the security environment in Central Asia. The Russian military currently operates a military air base at Kant, near the capital, Bishkek, and the two sides are considering a second that would be located in southern Kyrgyzstan. 
 

The Russian leader said Moscow and Bishkek agreed to step up military and technical cooperation and added that Russia is ready to close its military base in Kyrgyzstan should Biskek ask for it.