Russia-Belarus war games get underway

In this Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017 photo provided Monday, Sept. 18, by Vayar Military Agency, Belarus army air defense missile system fires on the position during a military exercise at a training ground at an undisclosed location in Belarus. Russia and Belarus began major war games Thursday, an operation involving thousands of troops, tanks and aircraft on NATO's eastern edge practicing how to hunt down and destroy armed spies, among other maneuvers. [Photo: Vayar Military Agency photo via AP]

In this Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017 photo provided Monday, Sept. 18, by Vayar Military Agency, a Belarus army soldier prepares to fire a portable air defense missile during a military exercise at a training ground at an undisclosed location in Belarus. Russia and Belarus began major war games Thursday, an operation involving thousands of troops, tanks and aircraft on NATO's eastern edge practicing how to hunt down and destroy armed spies, among other maneuvers. [Photo: Vayar Military Agency photo via AP]

A Belarusian military jet pilot lands on a parachute during a training in an emergency landing at the Zapad (West) 2017 military exercises, near the town of Ruzhany, some 235 km ( 147 miles ) south-west of Minsk, Belarus, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. Russia and Belarus began major war games Thursday, an operation involving thousands of troops, tanks and aircraft on NATO's eastern edge practicing how to hunt down and destroy armed spies, among other maneuvers. [Photo: AP/Sergei Grits, pool]

In this Friday, Sept. 15, 2017 photo provided Sunday, Sept. 17, by Beralus' Vayar Military Agency, a Russian, top, and Belarus national flags flutter in the wind during a military exercise at a training ground at an undisclosed location in Belarus. Russia and Belarus began major war games Thursday, an operation involving thousands of troops, tanks and aircraft on NATO's eastern edge practicing how to hunt down and destroy armed spies, among other maneuvers. [Photo: Vayar Military Agency photo via AP]

In this Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 photo provided Sunday, Sept. 17, by Beralus' Vayar Military Agency, Belarus army soldiers work on a military map during a military exercise at a training ground at an undisclosed location in Belarus. Russia and Belarus began major war games Thursday, an operation involving thousands of troops, tanks and aircraft on NATO's eastern edge practicing how to hunt down and destroy armed spies, among other maneuvers. [Photo: Vayar Military Agency photo via AP]