CSTO Peacekeeping Forces Complete Indestructible Brotherhood 2016 Exercise

On 27 August, the CSTO Collective Peacekeeping Forces (CPF) completed the Indestructible Brotherhood 2016 exercise, which was held under the command of Belarusian Deputy Defence Minister Maj. Gen. Sergei Potapenko.

This was the first exercise where the CSTO CPF got the mandate of the UN Security Council.

On this day, the actions of peacekeeping units were observed by Chief of the General Staff, First Deputy Defence Minister of Belarus Maj. Gen. Oleg Belokonev, CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Col. Gen. Anatoly Sidorov, Chiefs of General Staffs of Armenia’s and Kazakhstan’s armed forces, representatives of the military diplomatic corps accredited to Belarus, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and other invited guests.

The key goals of the exercise were to train commanders to organise peacekeeping operations and control of the CSTO CPF units, improve fieldcraft skills of peacekeeping personnel during joint operations, as well as strengthen mutual relations and cooperation between the CSTO member states.

Particular attention was paid to improving combat coordination of the peacekeeping units during peacekeeping operations.

Training sessions on conducting checkpoints, vehicle inspection procedure, carrying out foot patrols, rendering first aid and helping refugees (displaced persons) were held as part of the exercise.

The participants were trained to accompany convoys, conduct reconnaissance using UASs, clear mines, perform the duties at a mobile checkpoint, guard a critical facility, block and inspect a settlement, storm a building, act as a mobile reserve and facilitate humanitarian assistance.

Belarus was represented by the peacekeeping company of the 103 Airborne Brigade, reconnaissance company of the 3 Special Purpose Brigade (the Internal Troops of the Interior Ministry), units of the 927 Unmanned Aircraft Systems Centre, as well as two helicopters of the 50 Mixed Airbase.

The exercise also involved peacekeeping units from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan – a total of 1,500 troops from the armed forces, internal troops and police of all six CSTO member states and about 300 aircraft, tanks and vehicles.