Ukraine: Russia only partially opened Zapad-2017 military exercises to observers
Observers from Ukraine assessed the joint Russian-Belarusian exercise Zapad-2017 as "partially open." This was reported by the press service of the General Staff of the Armed Forces or Ukraine.
According to the Staff, part of Zapad-2017 where international observers were allowed was not sufficiently open. "They did not allow representatives of the invited countries to make sure that the declared objectives of the exercises corresponded to the current norms and methods of the usage of troops," the press service said.
Ukrainian observers did not have the opportunity to talk with the personnel who took part in the exercises or to visit the places of temporary deployment of soldiers. The Ukrainian Armed Forces said that this right is enshrined in international treaties.
In addition, according to the General Staff, the declared defense theme of the exercises did not correspond to their concept when they were conducted, since the servicemen carried out offensive operations.