CSTO exercises in Kazakhstan will practice response to a biological emergency for the first time

A Collective Security Treaty Organization exercise in Kazakhstan which began on September 26 will practice response to a biological emergency.
The exercise will be the first of its kind, according to the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s website.
A new subdivision within the CSTO Collective Security Force, a joint CSTO NBCP and medical support unit, will be involved in countering a suspected particularly dangerous infection of unknown origin.
The core of the unit is composed of Russian specialists from research units of the Russian Ministry of Defence equipped with advanced equipment that have been exhibited at international exhibitions and forums.
On 3–7 October, Kazakhstan’s Matybulak training range will host the active phase of the command-and-staff exercise of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Force Vzaimodeistvie 2022, the special exercise of reconnaissance forces and assets Poisk 2022 and Echelon 2022 involving logistics units.
Military contingents of CSTO Member States will practise the preparation and conduct of a joint operation to localize an armed conflict in the Central Asian region of collective security.
The exercise will involve military contingents of CSTO Member States, task forces of the CSTO Joint Staff and Secretariat, special forces of specialized internal affairs bodies (police), security agencies and special services, as well as emergency prevention and response agencies.
The plan is that the total number of people taking part in the exercises in the Republic of Kazakhstan will exceed 6,500 with more than 850 pieces of military and special equipment, including aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.