VITEBSK, 31 August (BelTA) – The opening ceremony of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) exercises was held in Vitebsk, BelTA has learned.
The exercises taking place on Belarusian territory this year include Interaction 2025 that will involve the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces and will focus on conflict localization within the territory of one of the member states, as well as two special exercises: Search 2025, involving reconnaissance forces and assets, and Echelon 2025, involving material and technical support units of the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces.
Taking part in the exercises will be contingents of the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces) of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan. The participants comprise military contingents and specialized units. The latter include special forces from internal affairs, security, and special services; bodies authorized for emergency response; and operational groups from the CSTO Joint Staff and Secretariat.
The event commenced in Vitebsk with a ceremony at the “To the Paratroopers of All Generations” monument. Veterans of the Belarusian Airborne Forces and Special Operations Forces, members of the 103rd Vitebsk Separate Guards Airborne Brigade and the Guard military-patriotic club paid their respects. The participants then proceeded to lay flowers at the memorial complex honoring the soldiers, partisans, and underground fighters of Vitebsk Oblast.
The opening ceremony was attended by Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces – First Deputy Defense Minister of the Republic of Belarus Pavel Muraveiko, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, Hero of the Russian Federation Colonel General Andrei Serdyukov, Vitebsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Subbotin, head of the Interaction 2025 exercise – Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Belarus Major General Vadim Denisenko, head of the Echelon 2025 exercise – First Deputy Chief of Logistics of the Armed Forces of Belarus – Chief of Staff of Logistics Major General Aleksandr Mosolov, and heads of military contingents.
“The annual CSTO exercises – Interaction, Echelon, and Search – have officially begun, hosted this year by Belarus. The drills are designed to address a comprehensive set of objectives, including public safety, countering external aggression, and neutralizing illegal armed formations and enemy reconnaissance and sabotage groups. A key focus will be on implementing modern tactics that we have learned from recent military conflicts. This will involve the integrated use of unmanned aerial systems, robotic assets, electronic warfare, and cutting-edge IT systems for protected communications and deployment,” Pavel Muraveiko told journalists.
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