Solemn Opening Ceremony of the Nerushimoye bratstvo–2024 CSTO Exercises Took Place in Kazakhstan

On October 1, at the Bereg training range, Kazakhstan hosted the solemn opening ceremony of the active phase of the Nerushimoye bratstvo–2024 command-and-staff exercise with the CSTO Peacekeeping Forces.

Lieutenant General Sultan Kamaletdinov, first deputy Defence Minister and Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, noted that against the turbulent situation in the world, the CSTO countries should be ready for various challenges and threats.

“Our goal is not only to show the best of the national peacekeeping contingents, but also to work out the coordination of units in fulfilling the tasks to prepare and conduct a peacekeeping operation by the Collective Peacekeeping Forces of the CSTO. Kazakhstan has declared the development of the CSTO's peacekeeping potential as one of the priorities of its chairmanship of the Organization this year. I am confident that during the exercise, the personnel of the national units of the CSTO Collective Peacekeeping Forces will improve their field training and professionalism, gain experience in peacekeeping operations, as well as the ability to coordinate the actions of multinational forces,” Sultan Kamaletdinov emphasized.

Taalatbek Masadykov, CSTO deputy Secretary General, noted that the exercise is taking place in a complex international environment, and the heads of the CSTO states are taking all necessary measures to build up the forces and means of the collective security system.

“Currently, the peacekeeping contingent from the Republic of Kazakhstan is successfully carrying out a peacekeeping mission as part of the UN Forces to observe the disengagement in the Golan Heights. The upcoming exercise is aimed at improving the practical skills and methods of work of commanders and staffs in the preparation and conduct of peacekeeping operations, improving the coordination of national peacekeeping contingents and raising the level of their field training,” shared Taalatbek Masadykov.

Lieutenant General Hasan Kaloyev, first deputy Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, pointed out that the development of peacekeeping potential is one of the priorities declared for the period of Kazakhstan's chairmanship in the Collective Security Treaty Organization in 2024.

“Today, the CSTO Member States have more than 25 years of experience of peacekeeping in different parts of the world. The upcoming exercise is particular, because, in addition to military formations, the joint actions involve units of internal affairs bodies, police, internal troops and troops of the National Guard, security bodies and authorized bodies in emergency prevention and response”, said Hasan Kaloyev.

In total, more than 2,000 servicemen, 500 units of armored and automotive vehicles, Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters, Il-76 and C-295 airplanes and unmanned aviation were involved in the exercise.

CSTO parliamentarians regularly monitor the Organization's military exercises. On September 11, at the Edelweiss training ground in Kyrgyzstan, participants of the Coordination Meeting of Chairpersons of Committees on Defence and Security of the CSTO Parliaments monitored the active phase of the Vzaimodeistvie–2024 CSTO exercises in Balykchy.