Russia rehearses invasion and occupation of Central Asian country during military exercises – videos

Russian forces have practised seizing territory and "creating a security zone" in a neighbouring Central Asian country during the Centre-2026 military exercises in Chelyabinsk Oblast.

Source: Russian propaganda media outlets; the Kremlin press service

Details: The exercises are taking place from 28 September to 3 October. They involve 47,000 military personnel, 2,000 pieces of military equipment, 90 aircraft and 77 warships and other vessels. Military contingents from Belarus, China, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan and Tajikistan are taking part in the exercises.

Russian ruler Vladimir Putin arrived at the Chebarkul training ground accompanied by a military helicopter. Several sections of roads in the area were closed to traffic for three days because of his visit, completely isolating the city of Chebarkul.

According to the official scenario announced by Russia's Defence Ministry, the exercises are designed to practise repelling aggression on the Central Asian front and ensuring security in the Caspian region.

Meanwhile, Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov, reporting to Russian ruler Vladimir Putin on the progress of the exercises, said that the troops were practising not only repelling an attack but also "creating a security zone in adjacent territories".

"The coalition force is repelling the main attack on the South Urals front, has restored its positions and, since 2 October, has been conducting offensive operations to liberate the captured territory and create a security zone in the adjacent territory," he said.

The Kremlin noted that the exercises involved units that are not taking part in the war against Ukraine. However, Putin stressed that all tasks were being conducted taking into account the experience of warfare in Ukraine.

Of the countries that could fit the description of the "aggressor country" in the scenario, Kazakhstan is the most plausible, as it has access to the Caspian Sea and borders Russia's Chelyabinsk Oblast. During the exercises, four long-range aircraft carried out strikes on critical facilities belonging to the simulated enemy.

Background:

• Russia has previously held similar large-scale military exercises. In particular, around 128,000 military personnel officially took part in the Centre-2019 exercises, while around 95,000 people participated in the Centre-2015 exercises.
• During the 2019 exercises, Russian troops practised neutralising a simulated state in southwestern Russia that had allegedly started a war and was spreading terrorism.

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