MOSCOW (TASS) —. Over 800 military servicemen were alerted for snap drills at the Russia’s 201^st military base in Tajikistan as part of artillery exercise, the press service of the Central Military District announced on Wednesday.

Gate of 201^st Military Base, Tajikistan

Russia’s 201^st military base, deployed in Tajikistan, is the country’s biggest military facility outside its borders (in Tajikistan’s cities of Dushanbe and Kurgan-Tyube). In line with an agreement signed in October 2012, Russian troops will stay in the country at least until 2042.

The press service reported:

Large-scale military drills of artillerymen started at Russia’s 201^st military base deployed on the territory of Tajikistan.

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The drills involve over 800 military servicemen and about 200 weapons and military hardware, including multiple launch rocket systems Grad and Uragan, self-propelled artillery howitzers Akatsiya and Gvozdika as well as 120-mm mortars.

The press service added that the military exercise will last until August 8 and will be held at the Lyaur firing range, located some 30 km to the south of the city of Dushanbe.