On July 15, 2026, the High-Level Regional Meeting “Enhancing Capacities to Prevent the Supply of Weapons to Terrorists in Central Asia” was held in Moscow, organized by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism with the participation of the Russian side.
On July 14, 2026, a working meeting was held at the CSTO Secretariat between CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov and UN Assistant Secretary-General Alexander Zuev.
From July 7 to 9, second staff talks were held in the Russian Federation on the organization and conduct of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) command-and-staff exercise “Interaction-2026”, the special reconnaissance exercise “Poisk-2026”, and the logistics support exercise “Echelon-2026”.
In accordance with the 2026 Action Plan of the Coordinating Council of Heads of the Competent Authorities for Countering Illicit Drug Trafficking of the CSTO Member States, and as part of the Russian Federation's priorities during its 2026 CSTO Chairmanship, the sub-regional counter-narcotics operation “Kanal – Amber Coast” was conducted from June 29 to July 3, 2026. The operation was aimed at disrupting trafficking routes for narcotic drugs, their precursors and analogues, new psychoactive substances, and potent substances into the CSTO area of responsibility, neutralizing international transnational drug trafficking groups, dismantling clandestine drug production facilities, undermining the economic foundations of the drug trade, including the laundering of drug proceeds.
The opening ceremony of the “COBALT-2024” CSTO training led by the Rosgvardia took place in Novosibirsk
14.08.2024
On August 14, the opening ceremony of a special training with special units belonging to the special forces formations of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces under the code name “Cobalt-2024” was held.
Special units of the internal affairs, national security, internal troops (national guard), special and anti-drug services, as well as emergency rescue and firefighting structures from the Russian Federation, the Republics of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic are taking part in the three-day training. The guests of honor at the opening ceremony of the CSTO training were representatives of the participating states, international organizations, the leadership of the Rosgvardia and government authorities of the Russian Federation.
Welcoming the participants and guests of honor at the opening ceremony, the CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov expressed confidence that the “Cobalt-2024” training would be held at a high level and would make a serious contribution to strengthening collective security.
“Today, the military and political situation that is taking shape in the world and in the area of responsibility of our organization can be characterized practically by two words - tense and complicated. Therefore, we are ready at any moment to come forward and take part in ensuring security in any region,” the Deputy Valery Semerikov noted.
Opening the trainings, Colonel General Nikolai Markov, Commander of the Siberian District of the Federal Service of National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation, emphasized that the CSTO countries were united to ensure the security and sovereignty of their states, had a common history, and were an example of friendship and unity.
“During the training, inter-agency groups will work out new forms and ways of using forces and means, test new models of weapons, combat equipment, as well as tactical methods of using strike drones, reconnaissance, engineering support and the use of robotics,” Colonel General Nikolai Markov added.
During the “Cobalt-2024” training, its participants will exchange best practices and improve the skills of interaction between special forces units. During the first phase of the training, a command post training will be held on planning and conducting a special operation, and special units will work on training and applied operational and combat tasks. Within the framework of the second phase of the training, practical actions of combined task forces of special forces will be played out when solving earmarked tasks. Using aviation and strike drones, the special forces will work on storming a building and a vehicle, freeing hostages and neutralizing militants, taking into account the combat experience gained.
The program of events will include competitions in tactical shooting from combat weapons, friendly matches in various sports, as well as visiting the guests of the capital of Siberia museum and exhibition complexes and city attractions.
The joint trainings of the CSTO CRRF “Cobalt-2024” will conclude on 16 August this year with a debriefing.
On the eve of the training, an educational and methodological session was held with the senior staff of the security bodies of the Ministries of Internal Affairs, the internal troops, the National Guard and the bodies authorized to deal with emergency situations.
