MOSCOW, May 26. /TASS/. Service members of Russia’s Eastern Military District (EMD) have arrived in Laos to launch a training course for local special forces and conduct joint exercises, the EMD press service reported.

"The ceremonial welcome of the Eastern Military District personnel, organized by the leadership of the Lao People’s Army, took place in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual respect, highlighting the importance of military cooperation between the two countries. The opening ceremony of the training course for the Lao People’s Army special forces and the joint exercise took place at the training ground of the Lao People’s Army Kommadam Military Academy of the Ground Forces," the statement reads.

The event was attended by Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People's Army Colonel General Saichay Kommasith, the exercise commander from the Russian side Colonel Ivan Tarayev, and servicemen from both countries.

Following the official ceremony, the event participants were shown Russian small arms, reconnaissance and FPV drones, electronic warfare systems, ground robotic systems, as well as motorcycles, ATVs, and buggies, which have demonstrated their effectiveness in the special military operation in Ukraine.

Skills acquired during the Typhoon 2026 training course for special forces of the Lao People’s Army will be applied in the joint Russian-Lao exercise Laros 2026.