Opinions & Interviews

BORISOV DISTRICT, 20 September (BelTA) – The goals of the Belarusian-Russian joint military exercise Zapad 2017 have been attained, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko told the media after surveying the Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017 on 20 September, BelTA has learned.

“The goals we set have been reached. All the tasks have been fulfilled,” the Belarusian leader said.

According to the president, the main phase of the army exercise was held in six ranges and two sections of terrain in Belarus. The organization of territorial defense was practiced during the exercise.

The head of state expressed gratitude to all the journalists who, in his words, did an excellent job covering both the preparation stage and the exercise itself.

“I would like to say that the objectives which we set out before the exercise were achieved in the training grounds in Belarus and in Russia. We drilled all elements of the exercise. We will analyze the results more closely later. But in general the objectives have been met,” the president said.

Speaking about the exercise, the president stressed that it is better to demonstrate things than to fight. “We were not hiding the exercise from anyone. We showed the capabilities of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus in defending the Union State and the interests of our states. It really was a demonstration of our capabilities,” the Belarusian leader said.

In general, the president said he did not notice any drawbacks in the course of the exercise. “Everything was at a very high level. It was not a sham exercise. It was an absolutely practical exercise showing as everything will happen, God forbid, in reality,” he said.