Russia began an eight-day massive military drill in Siberia on Monday, local media reported.

Around 5,000 service personnel and hundreds of armored tanks and fighter planes took part in the drill, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

The drill will last till March 23, said Colonel Igor Konashenkov, aide to the commander of Russia's ground forces.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2009)