Russia's war games

Alexei Nikolsky/RIA Novosti- Presidential Press Service/AP

Russian Army helicopters fire flares over Sakhalin Island in Russia's far east during military exercises, July 16, 2013.

The maneuvers in Siberia and the far eastern region involved 160,000 troops and about 5,000 tanks - a massive show of force unprecedented since Soviet times.

Watch: Russia holds biggest war games in decades

Russian President Vladimir Putin uses binoculars to watch military exercises near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, July 16, 2013.

Russian Army Engenering troops trucks are parked near Lake Baikal in Siberia, July 17, 2013.

Russian Army Mig-24 helicopters fly near Lake Baikal, July 17, 2013.

Russian Army Engenering tanks drive near the Lake Baikal, July 17, 2013.

Russian Pacific Navy ships sail near Sakhalin Island during military exercises, July 16, 2013.

A Russian Army Engenering tank drives near Lake Baikal, July 17, 2013.

Russian Army Su-25 jet fighters fly near Lake Baikal, July 17, 2013.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, listens to the chief of Russia's military General Staff Valery Gerasimov, right, as he observes military exercises near Lake Baikal, July 17, 2013.

Russian Pacific Navy ships sail near Sakhalin Island during military exercises, July 16, 2013.

Russian Army Su-25 jet fighters fly Lake Baikal, July 17, 2013.

Russian Army tanks move at Sakhalin Island, July 16, 2013.