Poland, NATO troops hold drills amid security concerns

WARSAW, Poland – Thousands of Polish and other NATO troops have launched major defensive exercises in Poland's north amid security concerns raised by war games recently held by neighboring Russia and Belarus.

The Dragon-17 exercise involves some 17,000 land, air force and navy troops and some 3,500 units of equipment and runs through Sept. 29. For the first time the biannual drill is being joined by Poland's new Territorial Defense Forces, which train civilian volunteers to support regular troops. Cybersecurity is also being tested.

On Thursday, Deputy Defense Minister Michal Dworczyk visited the Drawsko Pomorskie test range in northwest Poland, the main site of land drills for Poland's biggest military exercise this year.