The Kremlin is orienting its Unbreakable Brotherhood 2020 military exercises on peacekeeping operations as part of its hybrid war in Belarus. The Kremlin-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) stated on Oct. 7 that approximately 700 CSTO personnel will participate in annual Unbreakable Brotherhood exercises in Vitebsk, Belarus, from Oct. 12-16. The CSTO stated the exercise is intended to enhance the CSTO’s capability to conduct multinational peacekeeping operations by practicing monitoring ceasefire compliance, restoring “peaceful life,” maintaining checkpoint security, and riot control. The Russian military considers deploying conventional forces under the cover of “peacekeeping” to be a key means within a hybrid war. The Kremlin considers its ongoing campaign in Belarus to be a hybrid war and is likely to use CSTO exercises to advance its campaign.
Protests in Belarus
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George Barros, Mason Clark: Kremlin to advance hybrid war in Belarus
A woman holds up a photo of a beaten protester as she speaks with a riot police officer during a rally to protest the Aug. 9, 2020, presidential election results in Minsk on Sept. 5, 2020.
