Russia and allies to hold military drills in Belarus

The exercises, titled Indestructible Brotherhood 2026 and Barrier 2026, will take place October 12–16.

The exercises will involve over 1,500 military personnel, over 300 pieces of weaponry, military and specialized equipment, as well as about 80 drones of various types.

The maneuvers will take place at the Losvid and Starodorozhsky training grounds in Belarus.

The exercise program includes several tasks. In particular, participants will train to prepare for and conduct so-called peacekeeping operations by CSTO forces.

Separately, during the Barrier 2026 exercises, military personnel will practice actions to eliminate sources of biological threats within the area of responsibility of the organization's collective peacekeeping forces.

According to the CSTO, the exercises are routine in nature and are not directed against third countries.

Belarus conducts military exercises

Meanwhile, Belarus is continuing to conduct exercises to test the readiness of its armed forces. It was previously reported that the country was conducting mobilization drills.

Russia regularly involves Belarus in joint military exercises, and the country's territory is used to conduct maneuvers involving Russian military personnel.

The CSTO exercises are taking place against the backdrop of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine and heightened attention from neighboring states to the security situation in the region.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that large-scale joint military exercises by the Coalition of the Willing would take place in October–November 2026.

The French leader linked these exercises to the main areas of support for Kyiv from its allies.