CSTO drills to take place in Russia as military equipment moves through Kazakhstan

Three Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) exercises — “Interaction-2026,” “Search-2026” and “Echelon-2026” — will be held in Russia from September 24 to October 3, Kazakhstan’s Defence Ministry said.

The ministry said military equipment and personnel would be transported by rail through Kazakhstan between September 21 and October 5 to the Misyashch station in Russia’s Chelyabinsk Region and back, Caliber.Az reports. 

“As part of the preparation and conduct of the exercises, from September 21 through October 5, there will be a scheduled movement of military equipment and personnel by rail through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Misyashch station [Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia] and back. During the exercises, field training sessions will be held to practice troop redeployment, unit command, and the execution of assigned tasks,” the statement reads.

The ministry said the exercises were being conducted in accordance with a plan agreed by CSTO member states.

“We ask citizens, media representatives, and social media users not to spread unverified information and to rely on information published by official sources. We remind you that the dissemination of knowingly false information, as well as the publication of inaccurate information, entails liability in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” the Defence Ministry stated.

By Sabina Mammadli