CSTO Exercises Began in Belarus

On 11 October 2026, an opening ceremony of the CSTO Peacekeeping Forces command-and-staff exercise Indestructible Brotherhood – 2026 and the special exercise involving the CSTO Joint NBC Protection and Medical Support Unit Barrier – 2026 was held in the Republic of Belarus.

The formal ceremony took place in Victory Square in Vitebsk. Foot formations of the military contingents participating in the Indestructible Brotherhood – 2026 exercise were assembled in front of the memorial complex dedicated to the Soviet soldiers, partisans and underground resistance fighters who liberated Vitebsk.

The ceremony was attended by Major General Vladimir Bely, Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus; Lieutenant General Ruslan Shpekbayev, Deputy Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff; Colonel Alexandr Ilyukevich, Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus; commanders of the military contingents and other invited guests.

Major General Vladimir Bely, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus, addressed the participants:

“Dear exercise participants, dear guests!

Today, on Belarusian soil, we are launching one of the key joint training events for the military contingents of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation this year – the command-and-staff exercise Indestructible Brotherhood – 2026.

It has become symbolic that the opening ceremony is being held here, on Vitebsk soil, in Victory Square, beside the memorial complex dedicated to Soviet soldiers, partisans and underground resistance fighters. This is the land whose liberation during the Great Patriotic War cost the lives of our soldiers, including those of many nationalities. Eternal glory to them.

I will speak frankly: the exercise is being conducted amid a global military and political crisis and the degradation of the international security architecture, the essence of which can today be summed up in a simple principle: might is right.

The developing situation indicates that the level of military danger is constantly increasing. Western countries continue to pursue their confrontational policies, making ever-new attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of our states, contributing to the prolongation of the armed conflict in Ukraine, rapidly building up their military capabilities and, in effect, preparing for a new major war.

In these circumstances, our state bears enormous responsibility for effectively countering threats and ensuring security in the CSTO region. That is precisely why we are strengthening cooperation within the Organisation and improving interoperability through our joint training. The event we are opening today is further confirmation of this.

In addition to being one of the measures of strategic deterrence towards states with aggressive intentions, the exercise also provides another opportunity to demonstrate our warm relations, mutual support and the unity of our people.

I would like to express my gratitude to the defence ministries of all the countries participating in the exercise, as well as to the CSTO Secretariat and Joint Staff, which were directly involved in its preparation.

I am confident that the exercise will enable us to exchange experience, improve field training and strengthen cohesion. The international community will see the high level of readiness of our countries’ armed forces to act jointly, as well as our determination to defend our national interests aimed at preserving regional security.

I wish all participants in the command-and-staff exercise Indestructible Brotherhood – 2026 excellent results and every success, and further strengthening of cooperation in the interests of reliably ensuring peace and security.”

Addressing the exercise participants, Lieutenant General Ruslan Shpekbayev, Deputy Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, said:

“Peacekeepers have to face manifestations of hostility, intolerance and violence. Even in these difficult circumstances, they must carry out their assigned tasks professionally and effectively, in strict compliance with the norms of international law.”

He noted that the Russian Federation, which holds the CSTO chairmanship, had identified maintaining a high level of readiness of the Peacekeeping Forces to carry out their tasks and improving the regulatory framework governing CSTO participation in peacekeeping operations as key priorities.

Other priorities identified by Russia include developing the CSTO Joint NBC Protection and Medical Support Unit, integrating the latest scientific advances and medical technologies in support of the CSTO Collective Forces, and improving civil-military cooperation.

“One of the distinctive features of the forthcoming exercise is that, alongside military formations, units of internal affairs agencies, the police, internal troops and national guard troops will also be involved in joint operations. As part of the peacekeeping exercise, the special exercise Barrier is being conducted with the CSTO Joint NBC Protection and Medical Support Unit. Close coordination and the pooling of our countries’ efforts are particularly important in this area,” Lieutenant General Ruslan Shpekbayev said.

The Deputy Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff also noted that:

“The potential for conflict in a number of regions directly adjacent to the CSTO area of responsibility is only increasing. Under these circumstances, successful completion of the assigned tasks requires clear coordination between the armed forces and other security agencies.”

The special exercise involving the CSTO Joint NBC Protection and Medical Support Unit, Barrier – 2026, was launched in the town of Staryya Darohi.

Before the opening ceremony, commanders of the military contingents laid a wreath and flowers at the mass grave of soldiers and partisans who died during the Great Patriotic War.

Colonel Vyacheslav Starkov, Chief of the NBC Protection Troops of the Armed Forces and Director of the Barrier – 2026 special exercise, said:

“The primary objective of the Barrier – 2026 special exercise is to train the joint NBC protection and medical support unit to operate in support of the collective peacekeeping forces.

This objective will be achieved through the unit’s involvement in carrying out biological safety tasks. During the exercise, the joint unit will conduct biological reconnaissance, collect samples, carry out research and analysis, as well as perform personnel decontamination and special decontamination of weapons, military and special equipment.

Personnel from the CSTO member states will carry out joint tasks. The exercise involves service personnel from the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.

It should be noted that this is the first time the exercise has been held independently as a separate exercise on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. By expanding the capabilities of our forces and assets, we are involving units and institutions of the Ministry of Health in carrying out the assigned tasks. They will work to prevent the spread of particularly dangerous infectious diseases in the exercise area.”

At the Losvido training range, participants in Indestructible Brotherhood – 2026 are practising the preparation and conduct of a peacekeeping operation by the CSTO Collective Peacekeeping Forces.

At the Starodorozhsky training range, as part of the Barrier – 2026 special exercise involving the CSTO Joint NBC Protection and Medical Support Unit, participants are practising the elimination of sources of biological threats within the area of responsibility of the CSTO Collective Peacekeeping Forces.

The exercises involve contingents of the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces) from the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan. Participants include military contingents, units of internal affairs agencies (police) and national guard troops, as well as operational groups from the CSTO Joint Staff and Secretariat.

The Russian military contingent is primarily composed of units of the Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District.

More than 1,500 service personnel and over 300 pieces of weapons, military and special equipment are involved in the exercises, including approximately 80 different types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).