Eight Nations Complete Center-2026 Military Exercises in Russia

Military forces from eight countries have completed the Center-2026 strategic exercise in Russia after carrying out coordinated ground and air operations, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

The participating countries were Russia, China, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan and Tajikistan. The exercise began on Monday in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region and concluded on Saturday.

Joint operations in the Ural region

At the Chebarkul training ground, participating forces practiced moving troops over long distances and developing joint operational plans. They also conducted live-action maneuvers against simulated enemy targets.

The drills involved activity at Chebarkulsky in the Ural Mountains. Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the exercises on Friday.

CCTV reported that China deployed personnel from its Central Theater Command, including members of the 82nd Group Army and a combined-arms brigade.

Figures cited by Putin

Putin said the wider Center-2026 exercise involved 47,000 troops training to repel an attack at 11 firing ranges and in the Caspian Sea. That figure was attributed to the Russian president in the source material and was not independently verified there.

Putin also said about 6,000 troops from Russia and the participating countries took part in the final phase at Chebarkulsky.

The exercise combined field maneuvers with operational planning and coordinated activity by the participating forces. No further details about the exercise’s outcome were provided in the verified information.