Russia increases cooperation with the junta.
An unidentified armed group in southern Shan State has reportedly identified at least 4 Russian drone instructors in their area. The Russians are there on long-term deployments integrated into Tat's forts, giving them regular training. The unnamed group also claimed that the Russians are directly involved in the fighting by flying the drones on combat missions. Russian military personnel have already been seen in the country in the past in the Bagu area, where junta personnel were training, apparently on Russian drones that were sent to the regime earlier. This comes after the chairman of the military proxy USDP party, Khin Yee, called for Russian military intervention to help the regime in 2024 after mounting losses against rebel forces. The two countries have since deepened their ties and held joint military exercises held in both Russia and Myanmar, with the current Russian personnel in Myanmar expected to remain after the joint military exercises earlier this year. The resistance forces are gathering more information about the scope and details of the Russian military presence in the country and are allegedly sharing the information with Ukrainian intelligence.