Watch: Russia’s drone war machine on show as Putin watches massive military drills

Russia conducted its Center 2026 military exercise to bolster its defense strategies against potential threats.

Drones rained fire on targets as explosions tore across the battlefield in dramatic footage from Russia’s Center 2026 military exercise, showcasing Moscow’s growing focus on drone warfare and battlefield strike capabilities.According to the Associated Press, the footage comes from the final stage of Russia’s Center 2026 strategic military exercises, which Russian President Vladimir Putin watched at the Chebarkulsky training ground in the Chelyabinsk region on October 2.

Putin said the drills were intended to improve the ability of commanders and staffs to respond to external threats.The drills involve around 47,000 troops across 11 training ranges and the Caspian Sea, with about 6,000 troops taking part in the final phase.Russia’s defence minister Andrei Belousov said the exercise at the Chebarkulsky training ground involved around 700 pieces of military hardware, more than 600 drones and over 60 robotic systems, according to a statement cited by Russian state media.China is among the countries taking part in the drills, alongside Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia and Pakistan. The exercise is being held across multiple locations and is designed to train Russian and participating forces to respond to an external attack.

Putin also inspected new jet-powered Geran drones during the exercise, according to the AP report. The drones have been used by Russian forces in the war in Ukraine, highlighting how Moscow is incorporating battlefield experience from the conflict into the drills.