An active phase of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) war game, dubbed Rubezh 2022 (Frontier 2022), began in southern Tajikistan on October 17.
Russia’s Defense Ministry says the ceremony of launching the active phase of the exercise was attended CSTO Joint Staff Chief Colonel-General Anatoly Sidorov, Tajik First Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant-General Emomali Sobirzoda, CSTO Deputy Secretary-General Tahir Khairulloyev and representatives of the armed forces of Central Asian member nations of the Organization.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, military contingents of Central Asia’s member nations of the CSTO as well as operative groups of the CSTO Joint Staff and CSTO Secretariat are participating in the drill that is being conducted at the Harbmaidon training ground in Tajikistan's southern Khatlon province.
The war game reportedly involves about 1000 military personnel and more than 300 pieces of military hardware, including SU-25 fighters, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Russian Su-25 fighters are reportedly supporting from the air the Central Asian region's Collective Rapid Deployment Forces in the joint drill. In the course of the active phase of the training that runs through October 21, aircraft crews are practicing searching for and destroying enemy targets by carrying out airstrikes on “enemy” positions at the Harbmaidon training range.
The exercise being conducted for units of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (CRRF) of the Central Asian region of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) mainly aims to improve the practical skills of officials of the command and control bodies of the troops and increase the coherence of the units in implementing tasks during a joint operation.
Recall, Kyrgyzstan refused to participate in the Rubezh 2022 war game, which was launched in Tajikistan on October 10.
Citing the Defense Ministry of Kyrgyzstan, 24.kg reported on October 11 that “it is specified that initially the defense ministry did not plan to participate in this event.”
No other reasons were given, according to 24.kg.
Besides, official Bishkek on October 9 announced that it is canceling military exercise for CSTO military personnel. The exercise, dubbed The Indestructible Brotherhood-2022, was scheduled for October 10-14. It is to be noted that no reason was given for the cancelation announced on October 9.
Meanwhile, some experts say that it could not be ruled out that the exercise was canceled due to the recent deadly clashes along Kyrgyzstan’s common border with Tajikistan. Kyrgyz lawmakers have reportedly objected to Tajikistan being allowed to participate in the exercises.
Recall, Tajikistan military personnel did not participate in Rubezh-2021 military exercise that took place in Kyrgyzstan in September last year. The Kyrgyz Defense Ministry noted at the time that Tajik troops were originally scheduled to take part as well, but withdrew at the last moment for unspecified reasons.
Founded in 1992, the Collective Security Treaty Organization is a Russia-led military alliance currently grouping the six former Soviet republics of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
