MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that 100,000 troops are participating in the Russia-Belarus joint military drills, known as Zapad-2025.

"The event is being held at 41 training grounds, involving 100,000 servicemen and about 10,000 weapon and equipment systems," Putin said when visiting the Mulino training ground in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region.

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Among the equipment, there are 333 aircraft and more than 247 vessels, he noted.

The exercises aim to "practice all the necessary elements for the unconditional defense of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the protection of the Union State against any aggression," Putin added.

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The joint drills are taking place from Sept 12 to 16 in the two countries.

During his visit to the Mulino training ground, Putin also inspected the weapons, military forces and specialized equipment involved in the drills, the Kremlin said in a news release.