The opening ceremony of the Combat Commonwealth 2019 joint military exercises of the joint air defense forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member countries was held Monday at the Ashuluk military training facility in Russia.

The national anthems of the participating countries were played at the square where the national military divisions of Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan marched.

During his remarks at the opening ceremony, Colonel Artur Poghosyan, the head of the participating Armenian division, wished success and effective participation to the servicemen involved in these military drills.

The final phase of the Combat Commonwealth 2019 exercises, which are conducted with military shooting, will be held on Thursday.