Russia has reportedly sent a contingent of Iskander-M (SS-26 Stone) ballistic missiles to Tajikistan for drills. It is the first time Russia has moved Iskanders to that location. Russia has around 7,000 troops permanently stationed in Tajikstan.

The Iskander-M is a short-range ballistic missile with a range of around 500 kilometers. Russia has this missile type deployed in numerous strategic locations, most notably in Kaliningrad, where it can range much of Central and Eastern Europe.