A total of 13 countries took part in the exercise, which, in addition to Russia, included China, India, Belarus, Armenia, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Nicaragua, Laos, Mongolia and Tajikistan.
[1][4][5] It was composed of approximately 2,000 soldiers, 300 vehicles, 21 planes and 3 ships from the Northern Theater Command.
[6] The Indian contingent was made up of elements of 7th and 8th Gorkha Rifles, estimated to be about 75 soldiers strong.
[12] Chinese participation in the drills have been said to reflect improved China–Russia relations, and a message to the West that Russia still has international military allies, despite its recent invasion of Ukraine.
[11][13][5] On the other hand, the drills have been said to worsen Japan-Russia relations as they included a naval exercise near the disputed islands of South Kuril, claimed by both Russia and Japan.