Special forces from 6 CIS, SCO states show joint operational capabilities at Minsk drills

MINSK, October 8. /TASS/. Special forces from six Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries demonstrated their ability to conduct joint operations to repel terrorist attacks, free hostages, thwart drone attacks, and neutralize groups of illegally armed formations (IAFs) during the final stage of the Eurasia-Counterterror 2026 exercise in Minsk.

For the first time, special forces of SCO and CIS security agencies jointly carried out simulated operations on the territory of a single state.

During the first part held at the Chizhovka Arena sports complex, assault teams from Belarus's KGB Group A and Russia's FSB Directorate A neutralized terrorists who had seized the ice area and taken hostages. Belarusian and Kazakh special forces then freed hostages held on a bus.

At the Chizhovskoye Reservoir, special forces ran simulated operations operations to prevent IAF infiltration by water and thwart sabotage using remotely controlled equipment. An Okhotnik strike UAV destroyed one enemy boat, while a Belarusian rapid-response unit intercepted another. Electronic warfare systems created barrage interference against FPV drones.

At the Volovshchina training center, an Askalon loitering munition struck an enemy command post, and FPV drones suppressed positions during an operation to destroy an IAF occupying a border settlement. Operational combat units from Belarus, Russia, Uzbekistan, China, and Iran conducted hostage rescue and explosive clearance operations.