# Troop strength at Center-2026 exercises totals 6,000, Russian defense minister says

https://mins.news/en/item/83765

- TASS, 2026-10-02 16:07 UTC
- World
- Original: https://tass.com/defense/2196871

> Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said the Center-2026 strategic command-staff exercises began on September 28 and involve about 6,000 troops. Nearly 60 countries are participating, with seven sending military contingents and 51 dispatching observers. About 700 pieces of hardware, more than 600 drones and over 60 robotic systems are deployed.

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