First Staff Talks on Organizing Joint Exercises with the CSTO Troops Took Place at the CSTO Joint Staff

From April 7 to 9, the CSTO Joint Staff hosted the first staff-level talks on organizing and conducting joint exercises with the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces) in 2026.

In his opening remarks, Colonel General Andrei Serdyukov, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, emphasized that according to the priorities of the Russian Federation, which is chairing the CSTO in 2026, the most important area is the organization of joint training that reflects the nature of current and future challenges and threats.

"The primary goal is to organize troop command and control, which the President of the Russian Federation has also identified as a top priority. To achieve this goal, prior to the start of the Vzaimodeistvie-2026 command-and-staff exercises, a special exercise on the deployment of the command and control system is to take place this year. The main objectives of this exercise include practicing formation and coordination of command and control bodies, as well as the deployment of command posts at all levels of command within the the CSTO СRRF group," Colonel General Andrei Serdyukov shared.

During the staff talks, the participants reviewed the objectives and structure of each stage, timing and locations of the joint exercises, as well as organization of command and control, coordination and all-round support for the exercises and arranging demonstrations of new models of weapons, military and special equipment.

The main events will take place in September in the Republic of Kazakhstan – Rubezh-2026 joint exercise with the CRDF CAR; in September–October in the Russian Federation – Vzaimodeistvie command-and-staff exercise with the CSTO СRRF, Poisk-2026 special exercise involving intelligence forces and assets, and Echelon-2026 logistical support exercise; in October in the Republic of Belarus – Nerushimoye bratstvo command-and-staff exercise with the CSTO Peacekeeping Forces, and Barrier-2026 special exercise aimed at joint formation of NBC protection and medical support.