The first staff talks on the preparation of joint exercises with the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces) were held at the Joint Staff of the CSTO

From 7 to 9 April, the first staff talks on the organization and conduct of joint exercises with the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces) in 2026 were held at the CSTO Joint Staff.

In his opening remarks, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Colonel General Andrey Serdyukov emphasized that, in accordance with the priorities of the Russian Federation, which holds the CSTO chairmanship in 2026, a key area is the organization of joint training that takes into account the nature of current and emerging challenges and threats, as well as the experience of modern armed conflicts. Another priority is enhancing the combat potential of national contingents and equipping them with modern models of armaments and military and special equipment.

“The primary issue is the organization of command and control of troops, which has also been identified by the President of the Russian Federation as one of the priorities. In order to improve this area, it is planned this year, prior to the command and staff exercise ‘Interaction-2026’, to conduct a special exercise on the deployment of a command and control system. Its main objectives are the practical development of issues related to the formation and cohesion of command and control bodies, as well as the deployment of command posts at all levels of command of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces grouping being formed,” Colonel General Andrey Serdyukov said.

The talks, held under the overall leadership of First Deputy Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Lieutenant General Khasan Kaloev, were attended by representatives of relevant ministries and agencies of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as the CSTO Secretariat and Joint Staff, the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center and the Coordination Service of the CIS Council of Border Troops Commanders. Representatives of leading enterprises were also invited in order to organize demonstrations of the capabilities of the latest and перспективных models of armaments and military and special equipment during the joint exercises.

Particular attention was paid to conducting an instructor and methodological session for representatives of the CSTO member states aimed at presenting and explaining the main provisions of the Recommendations developed by the Joint Staff on the formation, cohesion and organization of the work of the CSTO CRRF Command in the preparation of a joint operation.

During the staff talks, the following issues were considered and discussed: objectives, content of stages, timelines and locations of the joint exercises; the preliminary composition of command and control bodies and troops (forces) to be involved; organization of command and control, training and comprehensive support of the exercises; the procedure for participation in the exercises of representatives of non-CSTO member states and international organizations invited as observers; and the organization of demonstrations of new models of armaments and military and special equipment.

The main joint operational and combat training activities, in accordance with the Plan approved by the CSTO Council of Defense Ministers and the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils, will be conducted:

in September in the Republic of Kazakhstan — the joint exercise with the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the Central Asian region “Rubezh-2026”;

in September–October in the Russian Federation — the command and staff exercise with the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces “Interaction-2026”, as well as special exercises with reconnaissance forces and assets “Poisk-2026” and with logistics support forces “Echelon-2026”;

in October in the Republic of Belarus — the command and staff exercise with the CSTO Peacekeeping Forces “Indestructible Brotherhood-2026” and a special exercise with the joint CBRN protection and medical support formation of the CSTO “Barrier-2026”.

Photo by the Press Service of the CSTO Joint Staff.