Russian troops are conducting joint exercises with Myanmar’s special operations forces in Naypyidaw, underscoring Moscow’s deepening role in the junta’s war effort.

The training, dubbed Operation Tropical Storm, is taking place at the National Defence College from 6–17 July. It follows a five‑year military cooperation pact signed in February, cementing ties that have grown steadily since Myanmar’s 2021 coup.

Pyae Sone Lin, head of the regime’s Military Training Directorate, described the drills as the “next stage” of an intensifying partnership. Russia has become a crucial supplier of arms and expertise, providing munitions, drones and defence systems. The regime also recently completed delivery of six Sukhoi Su‑30 fighter jets, with Russian personnel stationed in Myanmar to maintain them.

The influx of hardware has transformed the battlefield. Airstrikes have surged more than thirty‑fold since 2021, rising from 90 incidents in the coup’s first year to nearly 2,900 in 2025. Unable to secure territory with ground troops alone, the military has relied on aerial bombardment, often hitting civilian areas.

Conflict data shows over 19,000 clashes between regime and resistance forces since the coup, with more than 100,000 fatalities recorded. The violence has devastated communities nationwide, while the junta continues to hold ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi incommunicado after five years.

For Myanmar’s generals, Russia now represents both a lifeline and a shield against isolation. For civilians, the partnership has meant more bombs, more casualties and little sign of relief.

-2026-07-16

How many Burmese (Myanmar) soldiers are going to end up on the Ukrainian front for this help?

C'mon.

Everyone who knows jungle warfare knows how to handle these Russian city slickers

You find a constrained pathway

Dig a hole

Put bamboo spikes at bottom of hole

Cover hole up with palm leaves and forest litter

Use active force to funnel USSR troops into the pathway

YAAAAAAAAAAY ✅