Putin Observes Center-2026 Military Drills Involving Chinese Troops
· World · The Independent, tass
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a firing range in the Chelyabinsk region to observe the final stage of the Center-2026 military exercises. The maneuvers involved 47,000 troops across 11 firing ranges and the Caspian Sea, featuring military contingents from China, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and Pakistan. Putin inspected various weapon systems during his visit, including jet-powered Geran drones utilized in Ukraine. Delegations from 55 nations attended the exercises as observers. The inspection preceded a Russian warning to NATO regarding the defense of the western exclave of Kaliningrad.
Why it matters
Deepening military cooperation between Russia, China, and regional partners alters security dynamics and strategic alignment across Eurasia.
Read the original report — The Independent
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