International military exercises will be held in Kazakhstan without Russia’s participation

International military exercises “Birlestik-2024” (Unity – 2024) have begun in the Mangystau region of western Kazakhstan. Military contingents from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are participating in the exercises.

Russia and Belarus are not participating. Previously, regional military exercises involving troops from Central Asian countries almost always included Russia and Belarus. However, these countries are not mentioned in this announcement.

The reason for Belarus’s absence from the international military exercises “Birlestik-2024” is unknown.

Military analysts link Russia’s absence to the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has lasted for more than two years. According to them, during this two-year period, Russia has faced a severe shortage of military personnel. The country’s main forces are concentrated on the war, making the presence of Russian troops in regional exercises difficult.