Russia's Center-2026 Exercises Span Ten Training Grounds, Deputy Minister Says

Russia's Center-2026 military exercises are being conducted across ten training grounds, Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov said, according to TASS.

Yevkurov noted that operations at the Chebarkul training ground, one of the sites involved in the drills, are distinguished by the extensive use of unmanned aerial vehicles, reflecting the growing role drones have come to play in modern military exercises and real-world conflicts alike.

Center-2026 is one of Russia's large, periodic strategic exercises, bringing together various branches of the armed forces across a wide geographic footprint. Holding drills at ten separate training grounds suggests a broad scope intended to test coordination among multiple units and commands simultaneously.

The deputy minister's comments on drone use at Chebarkul echo broader statements from Russian officials this week describing coordinated strikes involving both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft against simulated targets, including a mock enemy UAV control post.

Further specifics on the other nine training grounds involved in Center-2026, including the types of drills conducted at each, were not detailed in the available reporting.