LEAD:
Russia and Belarus have launched joint military exercises on Thursday. The exercises are codenamed Zapad-2017 or West-2017 and will reportedly involve 12,700 soldiers in Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad. Concerns have been raised that the drills are larger than Moscow has publicised, numbering some 100,000 troops, and involve firing nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. Julia Lyubova reports from Moscow.
IN: Zapad 2017 will be…
OUT: SOC
DUR: 49'