News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 15 September (BelTA) – Stopping an attempt to violate the state border in air space was practiced in the Domanovsky exercise area on the second day of the Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017, BelTA learned from Vladimir Makarov, Head of the Information Office, Press Secretary of the Central Office for Ideology of the Belarusian Defense Ministry, on 15 September.

Apart from that, in the Domanovsky exercise area air defense missile units marched to a new position. Providing air defense on the move was practiced as well as securing and defending the new position.

Reconnaissance was practiced in the Borisovsky exercise area. A tactical drill involving a missile battery of the 336^th missile brigade took place over there. Missile launches were simulated. Preparations for combat actions took place in the Osipovichsky exercise area.

A combat operation to repulse an assault staged by a sabotage and reconnaissance force against the concentration area and the local command post took place in the Lepelsky exercise area.

The organization of territorial defense was practiced in Glubokoye District. Territorial defense units went on patrol together with interior troops of the Interior Ministry. Protection and defense of important institutions and installations was practiced. The territorial defense troops also contributed to the fight against sabotage and reconnaissance forces and illegal armed groups.

Special operations forces carried out their assigned tasks to bolster the security of one part of the state border and carried out special actions in their responsibility areas.

Near the village of Dretun reconnaissance units detached by the 103^rd Airborne Brigade were loaded onto Mi-8MT combat and transport helicopters. With assistance of Mi-24 assault helicopters they had to find an enemy and land a search party on a rough terrain. An unmanned aerial vehicle was used to find the enemy base. Destroying the enemy with assistance of immediately available aircraft and assault aircraft was practiced.

In Glubokoye District territorial defense units practiced maintaining martial law inside the district, protection and defense of various installations, and fight against illegal armed groups and sabotage and reconnaissance forces of the imaginary enemy.

The first stage of the Zapad 2017 exercise will end late on 16 September. Actions of commanding officers and staffs in managing troops in the course of final preparations for combat (special) operations will be analyzed. The organization of control, interaction, and comprehensive support will be analyzed.

In the Borisovsky exercise area as part of defensive preparations positions will be taken by army units, which will then camouflage them and perform a live fire session and a tactical drill.

In the Osipovichsky exercise area the troops will practice finding, blocking, and eliminating sabotage and reconnaissance forces of the imaginary enemy in their responsibility area.

In the Lepelsky exercise area combat actions will be practiced to repel an assault of sabotage and reconnaissance forces of the imaginary enemy against a security road block. Air Force units are supposed to practice destroying an illegal armed group and a sabotage and reconnaissance force using airborne weapons in the Ruzhansky exercise area.

In the Losvido exercise area there are plans to practice repulsing an assault staged by a sabotage and reconnaissance force of the imaginary enemy against a command post and a secure installation.