Russian forces train Myanmar special operations under 'Tropical Storm' exercise in Naypyidaw

What happened

DVB reports that Russian forces are conducting a joint military training exercise with Myanmar’s special operations forces in Naypyidaw, called 'Tropical Storm.' The operation runs from July 6 to 17 at the National Defence College, following a five-year military cooperation agreement signed between Moscow and Myanmar earlier this year.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. According to Pyae Sone Lin, chief of Myanmar’s Military Training Directorate, the training represents an intensification of the relationship between the two militaries that has grown stronger since the February 1, 2021 coup. This move reflects Moscow’s heightened involvement in supporting the Myanmar regime amid ongoing widespread armed resistance.

DVB references data showing over 19,000 clashes between the junta forces and resistance groups, including ethnic armed organisations, nationwide since the coup. The junta has been supplied with Russian military hardware including munitions, UAVs, anti-UAV systems, and six Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets, with Russian personnel reportedly stationed in Myanmar to maintain these assets.

Known from the source

• Russian forces are training Myanmar special operations forces in Naypyidaw under an exercise named 'Tropical Storm' from July 6 to 17, 2026.
• The training follows a five-year military cooperation agreement signed between Russia and Myanmar on February 3, 2026.
• Pyae Sone Lin, Military Training Directorate chief, stated the exercises mark an intensified relationship post-February 2021 coup.
• DVB cites over 19,343 clashes between regime and resistance forces across Myanmar from February 2021 to June 2026.
• Myanmar has acquired six Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets, with the final delivery in December 2024.

What remains unclear

The introduction of Russian-supported airpower has led to a dramatic increase in aerial bombardments, with airstrikes reportedly surging more than 30-fold since the coup, devastating both civilian populations and opposition forces. ACLED data cited by DVB records over 100,000 conflict-related fatalities in Myanmar since 2021, though attribution of specific incidents requires further confirmation.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of active Russian military personnel presence for maintenance roles in Myanmar. Independent confirmation of the five-year military cooperation agreement’s details and scope. Corroboration of the reported surge in airstrikes and its attribution to Russian-supplied military hardware.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: DVB English. Open the source.