CHEBARKUL TRAINING GROUND (Chelyabinsk Region), October 2. /TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has announced that the Center-2026 strategic command-staff exercises have been underway since September 28, in accordance with the Russian Armed Forces' training plan. The total number of troops involved is approximately 6,000 military personnel.

"Troops from the Central Military District, formations and units of the Aerospace Forces and Airborne Forces, formations and units under central command, as well as forces from the Caspian Flotilla, are participating in the event," Belousov said in a report to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the final stage of the Center-2026 exercises.

Representatives from nearly 60 countries, along with forces and equipment from the CSTO collective security system, are taking part in the exercises.

"Seven countries have delegated military contingents. The defense ministry of The Congo is represented by an operational group, and 51 states have sent observers. The total number of troops at the Chebarkul training ground is about 6,000. Around 700 pieces of hardware, more than 600 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types, and over 60 robotic systems are being deployed," Belousov said.