Putin observes CSTO Interaction-2026 drills with 47,000 troops in southern Urals
Russian President Vladimir Putin attended joint CSTO drills involving over 47,000 soldiers from nine nations across 11 ranges and the Caspian Sea.
Joint drills in the southern Urals
Russian President Vladimir Putin observed military exercises in the Chelyabinsk region of the southern Ural Mountains on Friday. The maneuvers took place under the framework of the post-Soviet Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The operations comprised two components: the Interaction-2026 drills and the Centr-2026 rapid reaction forces exercise. Putin monitored the troops as units practiced operational tasks across designated sectors in the region.
Multinational participation across nine states
The exercises involved personnel from all five active members of the security alliance: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. In addition to alliance members, four non-member states deployed contingents to the maneuvers. The Kremlin confirmed the presence of military personnel from China, Mongolia, Pakistan, and the Republic of the Congo.
- Maneuvers begin across 11 ranges and the Caspian Sea.
- Vladimir Putin observes exercises in Chelyabinsk Oblast.
- Scheduled completion of the joint military exercises.
Operational scale and maritime deployments
According to figures provided by Putin, more than 47,000 soldiers participated in the combined maneuvers. Troops operated across 11 separate land training grounds in addition to maritime areas in the Caspian Sea. Ground and naval formations conducted coordinated maneuvers aimed at integrating command structures across multiple services.
Exercise duration and core objectives
The military exercises began on 28 September and ran through 3 October. Russian officials stated that the primary objective of both Interaction-2026 and Centr-2026 was the refinement of command skills and combat readiness needed to repel external threats. Units focused on joint coordination and operational responses to simulate defense against external aggression.
