Russia is in the lead after the first day of the international Tank Biathlon competition, the chief referee, Major-General Yevgenly Poplavsky told the media on Monday.

"On the opening day, August 1 there were three races featuring the teams of seven countries: Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Mongolia and Angola. Russia is in the lead," he said.

Serbia are second, and Tajikistan, third.

"There will be three more races today. Group one is Armenia, India and China, group two: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Kuwait, and group three: Venezuela, Nicaragua and Serbia," Poplavsky said.

39 crews from 13 countries are taking part in the biathlon contest. The individual race will identify the three best tank crews and the eight teams that will participate in the semi-final relay race on August 13.