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 12th Southern Information Security Forum “Infoforum Sochi 2026” is taking place in Sochi, Russia, from June 30 to July 3. On July 1, the Forum's plenary session brought together representatives of federal and regional authorities, regulatory bodies, leading companies, and international organizations to discuss current challenges in the protection of critical infrastructure, the development of artificial intelligence, and international cooperation.
On June 30 – July 1, 2026, Saint Petersburg hosted a series of events chaired by Alexander Kurenkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, with the participation of heads of the competent authorities of the CSTO member states responsible for emergency prevention and response.
From June 24 to 26, 2026, CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov paid a working visit to the Republic of Tajikistan at the personal invitation of President Emomali Rahmon.
The Republic of Kazakhstan launched the active phase of the command and staff training of the Collective Security Treaty Organization "Interaction-2022", special trainings "Search-2022" and "Echelon-2022”
03.10.2022The active phase of the command and staff training of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces "Interaction-2022", special trainings "Search-2022" and "Echelon-2022" started today in the Republic of Kazakhstan at the training range "Matybulak".
The opening ceremony of the trainings was attended by Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, Takhir Khayrulloyev, the CSTO Deputy Secretary General, representatives of the armed forces of the CSTO member states.
Lieutenant General Marat Khusainov, First Deputy Minister of Defense - Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, welcoming the participants of the trainings, noted the importance of the Organization in ensuring stability and security in the region and increasing the professionalism of military personnel of the member states of the Organization.
"The CSTO countries are strategic partners and allies, and the upcoming trainings will serve not only as a tool to improve the combat skills of troops and coherence of units of the collective forces, but will also become an example of effective international military cooperation, achieving successes towards the exchange of experience," Lieutenant General Marat Khusainov said.
During the opening ceremony of the training, Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, said:
"Joint trainings are the highest and most effective form of joint training of command bodies, formations of forces and means of the CSTO collective security system, one of the most important means of improving combat readiness and fieldcraft.
The year 2022 is characterized by an aggravating situation in all regions of the CSTO collective security. Under these conditions, the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces) must remain in constant readiness to carry out earmarked tasks, including in conditions of modern proxy wars and armed conflicts with the enemy acting "under a foreign flag, with foreign hands”. At the same time, the CSTO Development Strategy gives priority to political and diplomatic settlement measures.
This year, the main activities of joint training are being conducted in the Central Asian region of collective security. The situation in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which remains tense, characterized by instability and potential danger, has a key influence on the development of the situation in the Central Asian region of collective security.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which consists mainly of airborne troops, airborne assault, motorized rifle, artillery and special forces units, will practice the preparation and conduct of joint operations to localize the armed conflict in the Central Asian region of collective security, including the practical organization and conduct of reconnaissance and organization of Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics support.
For the first time, a new formation of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Collective Forces - a joint CSTO NBC protection unit - will be involved in practical operations.
I wish the participants in the special trainings to demonstrate their best skills: high professionalism, teamwork, and, if necessary, mutual assistance and support, and to confirm their readiness to act to ensure the collective security of our states”.
Military contingents of the CSTO member states, task forces of the CSTO Joint Staff and the CSTO Secretariat, special forces from special units of internal affairs bodies (police), security agencies and special services, as well as authorized bodies in the sphere of prevention and liquidation of consequences of emergencies take part in the trainings.
The total number of participants in the trainings in the Republic of Kazakhstan is more than 6,500 people and more than 850 pieces of military and special equipment, including aircraft, helicopters and strike drones. The core of the Russian contingent is made up of units of the Central Military District.
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Joint press center of the CSTO trainings
