Military personnel from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are being trained to rescue hostages and conduct peacekeeping missions at the Indestructible Brotherhood 2025 maneuvers.
The contingents of the CSTO countries are practicing methods of joint struggle against the consequences of the use of chemical and biological weapons on the territory of Tajikistan, as well as conducting training on hostage rescue and peacekeeping operations. In addition to the host country, combat units from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia with a total strength of 1,500 people are involved in the Indestructible Brotherhood – 2025 exercises. According to experts, the counter—terrorism agenda of the exercises is extremely relevant for the region, the threats of destabilization of which — including from the West - not only persist, but are constantly growing.
The start of the "Indestructible Brotherhood – 2025" exercises
Exercises of the Peacekeeping Forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) started in Tajikistan on Monday at the Fakhrabad training ground "Indestructible Brotherhood – 2025", as well as special training with the joint formation of radiation, chemical and biological protection and medical support of the CSTO "Barrier-2025".
Photo: TASS
Image source: iz.ru
At the opening ceremony, CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov said that the maneuvers are being held in the context of an escalating crisis in the system of international relations and the preservation of conflict potential in the Central Asian region.
"In the conditions of a difficult military-political situation and regional instability, the CSTO peacekeeping forces must be constantly ready to conduct peacekeeping operations both in the organization's area of responsibility and beyond its borders under the UN mandate," Tasmagambetov said.
Military contingents from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and operational groups of the CSTO Joint Staff and Secretariat are taking part in the exercises. The Russian contingent is based on units of the 201st military base of the Central Military District, including mining, communications, electronic warfare, radiation, chemical and biological protection, medical units and drone crews. The total number of participants is about 1,500 people and more than 200 units of military and special equipment, including six helicopters and over 20 drones.
Photo: TASS
Image source: iz.ru
During the active phase, which will last until October 24, the military contingents will work out the preparation and organization of a peacekeeping operation of the Collective Peacekeeping Forces of the CSTO, the use of a joint formation of the RCB protection and medical support, as well as carry out tasks for post-conflict settlement in the crisis zone. The latter includes performing combat training tasks at checkpoints and reception points for victims, escorting convoys and cargo, liberating settlements, rescuing "hostages" and providing humanitarian assistance.
"The counter—terrorism agenda is constantly present at such exercises," military expert Alexei Leonkov told Izvestia. — But there are nuances related to the fact that the nature of possible threats is constantly changing. Any type of weapons can be used during short-term conflicts. Terrorists are not limited by any conventions and can use both biological and chemical weapons.
The southern region is currently restless, and threats to the countries of Central Asia remain, the expert added.
— The proxy war has become one of the tools used by the collective West to destabilize the global situation. You need to be prepared for any surprises, for the appearance of something unexpected. Therefore, the RCB protection unit is involved in the exercise. Our RCMP troops have extensive experience, and we have encountered the use of unconventional weapons. The transfer of this experience is very important, which is why it was included in the agenda of these exercises.
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Image Source: iz.ru
The maneuvers in Tajikistan are taking place against the backdrop of growing threats, including from the West, Darya Saprynskaya, a researcher at the Laboratory for Modern Central Asia and the Caucasus Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, tells Izvestia.
— A similar format of exercises has been implemented since 2004. They are aimed at improving skills and developing joint acute response actions. So far, specific threats have come from intra—regional problems, such as a possible increase in radicalism and border conflicts. We should not forget about the activity of the NATO bloc, as well as possible threats from the collective West," she added.
Against this background, the maneuvers certainly strengthen the dialogue between Moscow and Dushanbe, the expert emphasizes.
What CSTO exercises have been held recently
On September 20, exercises with units of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the CSTO Central Asian region "Rubezh-2025" ended in Kyrgyzstan. They went through three stages. At the first stage, the issues of actions of units during the introduction of higher degrees of combat readiness were worked out, and a regrouping was also carried out in the area of maneuvers. At the second stage, the command and units of the CSIS were engaged in the preparation of the organization of military operations to eliminate illegal armed groups in mountainous areas. At the third stage, the participants of the exercise practiced direct combat operations to block and destroy groups and detachments of illegal armed formations and restore the state border line.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Igor Egorov
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Contingents from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan took part in the Rubezh-2025 maneuvers. The total number of participants was about 1,200 people and 500 units of military and special equipment, including airplanes, helicopters, UAVs and combat boats.
Izvestia reported that in early September, a series of CSTO exercises took place in Belarus — "Interaction-2025", "Search-2025" and "Echelon-2025".
As part of the Interaction-2025 maneuvers, the Russian military from the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CSTO) practiced joint combat against drones, based on the experience of a special operation. In addition, the Russian paratroopers practiced coordinated movement, mutual cover, continuous firing, evacuation of the wounded, the delivery of reinforcements on armored personnel carriers and the elimination of enemy FPV drones.
During the Echelon 2025 exercise, special attention was paid to technical reconnaissance, evacuation and repair of damaged equipment, as well as protection from drones. The organization of production at the assembly point, where damaged cars are delivered, was also worked out.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Victor Tolochko
Image source: iz.ru
The special exercise "Poisk-2025" was dedicated to the organization of intelligence in the framework of joint operations. The reconnaissance groups identified the objects of the imaginary enemy and adjusted the fire. The units actively used drones of various types, thermal imagers and the latest models of communication equipment.
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| The Indestructible Brotherhood – 2025. |
| Source: iz.ru |
More than 2,000 military personnel and 450 units of weapons and equipment were involved in the joint exercises. Military personnel from Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan took part in the maneuvers.
Roman Kretsul
Elizaveta Borisenko
