Center-2026 Drills: Russia Rehearses Offensive Into Central Asia with 47,000 Troops
Russia concluded the Center-2026 military exercises on October 3, involving over 47,000 personnel from six nations. The drills simulated an offensive into a neighboring Central Asian state to establish a 'security zone,' a scenario widely interpreted as targeting Kazakhstan. Chinese forces participated using Type 99A tanks and drone swarms, while Russian officials stated the training incorporated lessons from the war in Ukraine.
