For the second year in a row, the Kremlin is canceling its annual International Army Games, a two-week competition pitting soldiers against each other.

The Interfax-Ukraine news agency said about 6,000 troops from 37 countries participated in the International Army Games in 2022, the last year they were held.

The games were first held in August 2015 and are organized by Russia’s Ministry of Defense. Soldiers participate in infantry drills, sniper contests and building pontoon bridges. One of the most popular events is the tank biathlon, which tests a crew’s ability to provide accurate fire while maneuvering along a track.

Moscow likely called off what it calls the War Olympics to avoid criticism of the event as trivial amid Russia’s costly war against Ukraine and to avoid the embarrassment of reduced participation from other countries, analysts said.

Past competitors in the International Army Games have included China, Iran, Belarus, Armenia, India and Mongolia. Russia has been the overall winner every year since the event began. 

“There is also a realistic possibility that, due to losses in Ukraine, the Russian (Ministry of Defense) is concerned that a shortage of skilled military personnel and equipment would risk Russia’s consistent domination of the competition,” British military intelligence officials said Wednesday on X.

• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.