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The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has launched its main joint military exercises of the year at the Chebarkul training ground in Russia’s Chelyabinsk Region on September 27, 2026.

The exercises bring together more than 2,000 servicemen and more than 350 units of weapons, military, and special equipment. The drills will continue through October 3, 2026.

The exercises include the Interaction-2026 command-and-staff exercise, the Poisk-2026 special reconnaissance exercise, and the Echelon-2026 logistics support exercise.

The opening ceremony was attended by CSTO Joint Staff Chief Colonel General Andrey Serdyukov, CSTO Deputy Secretary General Mirlan Turgunbekov, commanders of participating military contingents and other officials.

“Today, the main training event of the year begins on Russian territory: the Interaction-2026 joint command-and-staff exercise, as well as the Poisk-2026 and Echelon-2026 specialized exercises,” Serdyukov said.

The main Interaction-2026 exercise focuses on preparing and conducting a joint operation by the CSTO’s Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) to localize and contain a simulated armed conflict along a border.

CSTO forces from Kazahkstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan take part in joint EXERCISES in Russia — Chief of Staff Serdyukov ADRESSES the troops

He notes the 'experience of modern conflicts' will be taken into account as the 'combat potential' of the CSTO is HONED pic.twitter.com/ncWUwcASNO

— RTRussia (@RT_Russia_) September 27, 2026

Poisk-2026 is focused on reconnaissance activities in support of the CRRF, while Echelon-2026 is centered on the organization of logistical and material support for the participating forces.

The exercises are designed to improve coordination between national military contingents and the ability of CSTO forces to operate together under a unified command structure.

Participants

Military contingents from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are participating alongside Russian forces in the exercises.

The participating countries are providing personnel and military equipment for the different components of the drills, covering joint command and control, reconnaissance, and logistics support.

Armenia, which is also a member of the CSTO, is not taking part in the exercises. Yerevan has frozen its participation in CSTO activities since 2024, although it remains a formal member of the organization.

Armenia has also not participated in several recent CSTO military activities, reflecting the wider reduction in its involvement with the organization.

The exercises are being held under Russia’s CSTO chairmanship and are part of the organization’s 2026 joint training program. The program includes around 60 joint activities throughout the year, covering military command, combat readiness, peacekeeping, reconnaissance and logistical support.

The Chebarkul exercises are among the main military activities in the program and are focused on improving the readiness of the CSTO’s Collective Rapid Reaction Forces and their ability to operate together under a coordinated command structure.

Focus on Modern Warfare

The drills are also incorporating experience from recent armed conflicts, with particular attention to modern command-and-control systems, reconnaissance, unmanned systems, electronic warfare and air defense.

The participating forces are practicing coordination between different military units while using modern weapons, military equipment and specialized systems.

The training is intended to improve the readiness of the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces to respond jointly to potential security threats and carry out assigned missions.

Russian and CSTO officials have described the exercises as planned activities and said they are not directed against any third country.

Part of Wider CSTO Training Program

The exercises in Russia are part of the CSTO’s broader 2026 military training program, which includes around 60 joint activities, including eight command-and-staff and specialized exercises.

Earlier in September, the joint CSTO exercise Rubezh-2026 (Frontier-2026) was conducted at the “Koktal” training ground in Kazakhstan, from September 13 to 18.

The drill involved about 1,500 personnel from the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the CSTO’s Central Asian region, mainly from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

That exercise focused on operations in mountainous and desert terrain. Further CSTO exercises are planned for October, including the Cobalt-2026 and Rock-2026 specialized exercises in Tajikistan, as well as the Unbreakable Brotherhood-2026 and Barrier-2026 peacekeeping exercises in Belarus.

The exercises at Chebarkul are therefore the latest major part of the CSTO’s 2026 training schedule, with the organization continuing to focus on joint command, reconnaissance, logistics, and the readiness of its collective forces.