Russia rehearses retaking territory, creating security zone in Center-2026 drills near Kazakhstan

October 3, 2026 at 09:30 AM2 min

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Russian forces rehearsed an offensive to liberate captured territory and establish a security zone beyond it during the Center-2026 exercises in the Chelyabinsk region. The scenario's description of a neighboring Central Asian state most closely matches Kazakhstan, though Moscow did not name the country. The maneuvers, running from September 28 to October 3, involve 47,000 service members and contingents from six other nations.

Key Facts

The Center-2026 exercises run from September 28 to October 3 in Russia's Chelyabinsk region.
The drills involve 47,000 service members, 2,000 pieces of military equipment, 90 aircraft, and 77 ships and vessels.
Military contingents from Belarus, China, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Tajikistan are participating.
Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov said the coalition force began offensive operations on October 2 to liberate captured territory and establish a security zone.
Kazakhstan borders Russia's Chelyabinsk region and has a Caspian Sea coastline, matching the scenario's description of the simulated neighboring state.

Exercise Scenario

The official Russian Defense Ministry scenario states the exercises test the forces' ability to repel aggression on the Central Asian front and ensure security in the Caspian region. Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, briefing Vladimir Putin, described operations beyond the simulated captured territory. Yevkurov said the coalition force repelled the main attack on the South Ural front, restored positions, and from October 2 conducted offensive operations to liberate captured territory and establish a security zone in the adjacent area. Four long-range aviation aircraft struck critical facilities belonging to the simulated enemy during the exercises. The Kremlin said units not fighting against Ukraine were deployed, and Putin stressed tasks were carried out with the experience of the war in Ukraine taken into account.

Putin's Visit

Putin arrived at the Chebarkul training ground accompanied by a military helicopter. Several sections of highways in the region were closed for three days, and the city of Chebarkul was completely sealed off in connection with his visit.

Kazakhstan Resemblance

The exercise scenario does not name the country directly, but Kazakhstan most closely matches the description of the state. Kazakhstan has a coastline on the Caspian Sea and borders Russia's Chelyabinsk region. Previous Center exercises involved around 128,000 service members in 2019 and approximately 95,000 in 2015. In 2019, Russian forces rehearsed neutralizing a simulated state in southwestern Russia that had started a war and was spreading terrorism.