On July 14, a ceremony was held at the Termez training ground in Surkhandarya Region to mark the start of joint tactical exercises of the armed forces of Uzbekistan and Russia, named Hamkorlik-2025. The drills are being conducted under the bilateral military cooperation plan between the two countries.
Statement by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
According to the statement published by Russia’s Ministry of Defense, the exercise focuses on command and control during the detection and elimination of illegal armed groups (IAGs) in border areas. The Russian side notes that the following actions will be practiced:
- operations to detect and neutralize small IAG groups that have violated the state border;
- storming and clearing of populated areas seized by militants;
- recapturing facilities occupied by armed groups;
- combating sabotage groups.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense highlights the participation of units from the 201st Russian military base, including mountain and assault troops, electronic warfare teams, UAV and FPV drone crews, and Mi-24 attack helicopter units. The active phase of the exercise is scheduled for July 15–21.
Statement by the Ministry of Defense of Uzbekistan
In its own statement, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Defense emphasizes the educational and interstate cooperation aspects of the exercise. The stated objectives include:
- developing military cooperation;
- strengthening combat partnership;
- sharing experience in combat operations;
- improving combat skills in desert conditions.
The declared theme of the drills is “special operations to eliminate illegal armed groups”. Approximately 400 troops are participating, along with Russian military equipment. In addition to combat training, cultural and recreational events and sports competitions are planned.
Diverging emphases
Despite a shared location and overarching theme, the two official statements differ significantly in tone and emphasis:
- The Russian side focuses on combat scenarios, storming operations, and the involvement of advanced military hardware and special forces.
- The Uzbek side highlights joint training, skills development, and experience exchange, avoiding terminology associated with offensive operations.
This divergence in rhetoric may reflect Uzbekistan’s intention to maintain a cautious positioning in the context of both regional and international sensitivities.
Context: ongoing war and legal accountability
The holding of such joint exercises raises public concerns in light of the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale military aggression against Ukraine. Despite Tashkent’s declared neutrality, there have been documented cases of Uzbek nationals becoming involved in the conflict—both as part of Russian military units and through private military companies. Participation of Uzbek citizens in armed conflicts abroad is punishable under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (including Article 154-1, among others).