Joint CSTO Exercises Begin in Belarus with Over 1,500 Troops

Joint military exercises involving member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) began in Belarus on October 11. The drills are named Indestructible Brotherhood–2026 and Barrier–2026.

According to the CSTO press service, more than 1,500 troops from Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan are taking part in the exercises.

The Russian military contingent consists mainly of units from the combined arms army of Russia’s Central Military District.

In total, the participating countries have deployed more than 300 units of weapons, military and special equipment, including around 80 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The Indestructible Brotherhood–2026 exercises focus on preparing for and conducting a peacekeeping operation by the CSTO Collective Peacekeeping Forces.

At the Losvido training ground, troops will practice commanding joint contingents and carrying out missions in challenging conditions.

Meanwhile, a special exercise, Barrier–2026, is being held at the Starodorozhsky training ground.

Participants are practicing eliminating sources of biological threats within the CSTO Collective Peacekeeping Forces’ area of responsibility.

The exercises involve joint radiation, chemical and biological defense units, as well as medical support units.

In addition to military formations, the exercises include units from the police, internal affairs agencies, internal troops and national guards of the participating countries.

Militarnyi previously reported that in September 2026, servicemen from the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Belarus took part in the joint Belarusian-Chinese tactical exercise Swift Eagle–2026 in China.