Russia-led military bloc launches joint military drills in Belarus
The drills involve more than 1,500 military personnel, over 300 pieces of military equipment, and around 80 drones, according to the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
On October 12, Russia-led military bloc, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), initiated joint military drills in Belarus, according to the organization. The exercises will be conducted across two training grounds on Belarusian soil, involving over 1,500 military personnel, more than 300 pieces of military equipment, and approximately 80 drones, as per the CSTO.
Participating in the drills are contingents from Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The drills aim to train CSTO peacekeeping forces and include exercises to counter biological threats, the organization disclosed. Mirlan Turgunbekov, CSTO Deputy Secretary-General, stated in a statement on October 11 that the exercise is especially pertinent given the escalating military and political circumstances.
The CSTO, established in 2002, comprises Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Russia holds the dominant position within the alliance. Belarus has lent its support to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine by granting Moscow the use of its territory as a staging ground for the invasion in 2022. Despite not officially deploying its troops to fight in Ukraine, Belarus has maintained military cooperation with Russia and provided assistance for the Russian war efforts.
Ukrainian officials reported on September 14 that Russia is leveraging Belarusian infrastructure, including LTE networks and repeater stations, to sustain stable signals for Shahed-type drones during attacks on Ukraine. Belarus conducted military exercises near its borders with Poland and Lithuania from September 15 to 18, as reported by the Belarusian Defense Ministry on September 15.
Additionally, Belarus is constructing new railway infrastructure in the country's southern Gomel Oblast, capable of receiving military trains carrying personnel and heavy equipment, as per the Belarusian Railway Workers Community's report on August 24. In May 2026, Belarus and Russia held nuclear weapons exercises, amid growing concerns in Ukraine about intensified military collaboration between the two nations.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
