MOSCOW, September 27. /TASS/. Joint drills of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) forces - the Interaction-2026 command-and-staff exercise, the Poisk-2026 special reconnaissance exercise, and the Echelon-2026 logistics support exercise - have kicked off in Russia, the Defense Ministry reported.

"Today, an opening ceremony was held at Russia’s Chebarkul training ground for the CSTO Interaction-2026 command-and-staff exercise, as well as the Poisk-2026 and Echelon-2026 specialized exercises," the ministry said.

The opening ceremony was attended by CSTO Joint Staff Chief and Hero of Russia Colonel General Andrey Serdyukov, CSTO Deputy Secretary General Mirlan Turgunbekov, commanders of military contingents, and invited officials. "Today, the main training event of the year begins on Russian territory: the Interaction-2026 joint command-and-staff exercise, as well as the Poisk-2026 and Echelon-2026 specialized exercises," Serdyukov noted.