Russia Conducts Exercises Simulating Occupation of Central Asian Country

In the Chelyabinsk region, the Russians conducted exercises to ‘repel external aggression’ and ‘establish a security zone’ on the territory of a Central Asian country.

The exercises at the Chebarkul training ground, attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, were named Center-2026 by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.

The scenario was not limited to defense.

After repelling the main assault in the South Ural direction, the troops launch an offensive to “liberate the occupied territory and establish a security zone in the adjacent territory.”

“The coalition force repelled the main strike in the South Ural direction, stabilized the situation, and has been conducting offensive operations since October 2 to liberate the occupied territory and establish a security zone in the adjacent territory,” — stated Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov to Putin.

The exercises involved the T-14 Armata tank, armored vehicles, drones, artillery, and aircraft.

At the same time, the Caspian Flotilla was conducting an anti-landing operation.

As part of the operation, four long-range aircraft are striking ‘critical enemy targets.’

According to Putin’s statement, more than 47,000 military personnel are participating in the Center-2026 exercises across 11 training grounds and in the Caspian Sea.

This is significantly fewer than the reported number of participants in the two previous exercises: approximately 128,000 people took part in Center-2019, and about 95,000 in Center-2015.

Kazakhstan best fits the description of an aggressor country in the exercise scenario; it is located in Central Asia, has access to the Caspian Sea, and borders the Chelyabinsk region.

Prior to this, Kazakhstan also conducted military exercises in Central Asia, involving 7,000 military personnel.