CSTO Launches Two Joint Military Exercises in Belarus
Minsk (ANTARA) – The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) began two joint exercises in Belarus on Sunday (11 October), entitled “Indestructible Brotherhood-2026” and “Barrier-2026”.
The opening ceremony for the command-post exercise involving the CSTO Collective Peacekeeping Forces was held at Victory Square in the Belarusian city of Vitebsk.
Contingents from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan gathered at the square, where participants laid flowers at a memorial honouring Soviet liberators, partisans and underground fighters in the region.
The ceremony was attended by Major General Vladimir Bely, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defence of Belarus; Lieutenant General Ruslan Shpekbaev, Deputy Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff; and Colonel Alexander Ilyukevich, Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Belarusian Armed Forces.
In his address, Bely warned of the changing global security landscape and stressed the need to strengthen regional cooperation within the CSTO to counter growing threats.
He highlighted Western policies and actions which, he said, were increasing regional security risks, and underlined the importance of effective joint exercises.
Separately, the Eighth Radiological, Chemical and Biological Protection Brigade in the Minsk region held an opening ceremony for a specialist exercise under “Barrier-2026”, focusing on joint protection and medical support in radiological, chemical and biological situations within the CSTO framework.
The exercises involve not only the armed forces, but also personnel from internal affairs agencies, the police, internal troops and emergency services.
“Indestructible Brotherhood-2026” will focus on peacekeeping operations, while “Barrier-2026” will simulate responses to biological threats.
The exercises will be held at the Losvido and Starodorozhsky training grounds, respectively.
More than 1,500 military personnel and over 300 units of military and specialist equipment will take part, including around 80 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The CSTO has six member states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.