Combat training, activities of the Internal Troops and territorial defense.
On January 20-26, 6 Russian drones of the Shahed type were detected in Belarus’ airspace. Their destruction by the Belarusian Armed Forces was not reported.
Military expenditures continue to grow in local budgets for 2025. The total expenditures of the budgets of six regions under the item “National Defense. Ensuring mobilization preparation and mobilization” amounted to 25,142,640 BYN ($7,302,535).
Tactical drills with units of the 336th Rocket Artillery Brigade took place at the Asipovichski training ground. During the drills, one of the Polonez MLRS batteries went on combat duty and conducted electronic launches at targets at a range of up to 300 kilometers.
New fortifications appeared in Mazyr district: firing points, trenches and checkpoints. These fortifications are located along the R131 highway leading to the oil refinery.
On January 21, a two-week training session with the Smerch and Chest’ “volunteer” units started in the Internal Troops. The training session was probably aimed at mobilizing the force reserves before the “election.”
International cooperation
On 22 January, Head of the Department of International Military Cooperation of the Belarusian Ministry of Defense Valery Revenka had an accreditation meeting with Tajik military diplomat Akbar Majidzoda. The parties discussed the issues of bilateral military cooperation and expressed readiness to further promote the strengthening of friendly ties between the defense agencies of the two countries.
On January 24, Minister of Defense of Belarus Viktar Khrenin met with Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Nurlan Yermekbayev. The parties had a thorough talk on the development of the organization and China’s initiatives in the year of its presidency.
Combat training
On January 20, it was reported that a training session was being held at the 174th training ground of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces to train reconnaissance observers of visual observation points in the specialty of anti-aircraft gunners (Igla MANPADS).
On January 21, firearms exercises were held at the Hozhski training ground with soldiers of the 6th Mechanized Brigade. During the training, they practiced countering UAVs using a turret equipped with AK-74 assault rifles. The turret is designed for simultaneous use of three or more rifles and allows 360-degree circular firing, including firing from different angles. Similar training took place with soldiers of the 11th Mechanized Brigade and the 74th Signal Regiment.
On January 21, firearms exercises were held in the 120th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade. As part of the training, servicemen performed practical firing from the MR-155 Baikal shotgun. This weapon is effectively used to combat UAVs, which was confirmed during the war in Ukraine. Such exercises were also conducted with servicemen of the 230th combined arms training ground.
On January 22, it was reported that as part of tactical drills with units of the 336th Rocket Artillery Brigade, one of the Polonez MLRS batteries occupied a position area and went on combat duty against assigned targets. The personnel practised the tasks of locating on the ground, camouflaging the positions and organizing the protection of the area. The servicemen also conducted electronic launches at targets at a range of up to 300 kilometers. The drills were held at the Asipovichski training ground.
An annual winter training session for diving units of the Belarusian Armed Forces is held in the 188th Engineering Brigade. During the week, 35 divers from all over the country master the theoretical part and improve practical skills to confirm or upgrade their class qualification. The servicemen train in various types of equipment: they cut metal and wooden structures underwater, search for and lift objects to the surface, including simulations of explosive ones.
On January 23, it was reported that field drills with a unit of the 51st Artillery Brigade armed with the BM-21B BelGrad-2 MLRS were conducted at the Asipovichski training ground. The servicemen occupied, arranged and camouflaged the staging area, as well as underwent a course of combat training in conditions close to combat. The main focus is on guarding, medical and tactical training, and changing firing positions.
Situation on the border with Ukraine
On January 21, it was reported that dozens of fortifications appeared in Mazyr district: firing points, trenches and checkpoints. They are located along the R131 highway leading to the Mazyr oil refinery. According to the military commissar of Mazyr, Yelsk and Naroulia districts, scheduled combat training exercises are being conducted, including practicing the tasks of blocking highway routes. In December 2024, units of the 120th Mechanized Brigade (military unit 04147) were redeployed to the area.
Flights of Russian UAVs into Belarus
On January 20-26 about 6 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type were detected in Belarus’ airspace.
On January 22, one Russian UAV of the Shahed type flying from the territory of Ukraine was detected in Belarus’ airspace. Its fate remains unknown. The Belarusian Air Force was not involved in the interception of the UAV.
On January 24, five Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flying from the territory of Ukraine were detected in Belarus’ airspace. Four Shahed UAVs subsequently returned to the territory of Ukraine, while the fate of the rest remains unknown. The Belarusian Air Force was not involved in the interception of the UAVs.
Rearmament. Work of the military-industrial complex
On January 23, it was reported that routine maintenance of combat vehicles of the Osa SAM system continues in the 62nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment. The regiment’s technicians are working to maintain the combat readiness of the equipment and ensure its trouble-free operation.
On January 24, it was reported that specialists from the 814th Technical Support Center continue to produce antidrone protection kits for infantry fighting vehicles. By creating “antidrone grids” from available materials, the survivability of military vehicles and crew is significantly improved.
On January 26, in the Arsenal program, the head of the Engineering Troops Directorate said that in 2024, more than 30 models of engineering equipment were delivered to the Belarusian Armed Forces after undergoing deep modernization at the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex. New pieces of equipment are also being put into service: excavators, backhoe loaders, truck cranes, power stations, demining kits, and remote-controlled demolition equipment.
According to BELPOL, a number of Belarusian companies are engaged in the serial production of projectiles for the BM-21 Grad MLRS for the Russian army. The following enterprises were named among the main producers: Belarusian Automobile Plant OJSC and BAZtyub LLC (Zhodzina), Belarusian Metallurgical Plant OJSC (Zhlobin), Precision Electromechanics Plant (Minsk) and Legmash Plant OJSC (Orsha). A total of 15 enterprises are involved in the production chain. According to BELPOL, in 2023-2024, Belarusian enterprises planned to manufacture and supply parts for 155,000 projectiles to Russia.
Military commissariats. Territorial defense
On January 17, as part of the training plan of the territorial defense authorities and military units of the territorial troops in Klichau district, exercises were held with officials of the district defense council.
On January 21, it was reported about the growth of military expenditures in regional budgets for 2025. In particular, these expenditures in Homiel region and Minsk region reached record levels since 2022. At the same time, the budgets of Brest, Vitsiebsk, Hrodna and Mahiliou regions provide for their reduction compared to 2024.
The experience of previous years shows that defense expenditures can both increase and decrease during the year. The total expenditures of the budgets of six regions for 2025 under the item “National Defense. Ensuring mobilization training and mobilization” amounted to 25,142,640 BYN ($7,302,535).
On January 22, the military commissariat of Ivatsevichy district sent five reservists to a training session.
On January 23, exercises were held in the military commissariat of Krychau district with reserve officers intended to staff the main positions of the district headquarters of territorial defense and military units of territorial troops.
Internal Troops
On January 16, it was reported that since September 1, the Internal Troops Faculty has been teaching the academic discipline “Operative and Investigative Activity of Internal Affairs Bodies”.
On January 18, a training on tactical medicine was held at the training center of the Guard Service private security company for soldiers of the Chest’ special forces detachment. During the training, the participants practiced first aid, self-help and evacuation of the wounded in conditions as close as possible to a combat situation.
On January 18, an engineering training was conducted with the engineering and saber team of Chest’ special forces detachment under the guidance of an experienced instructor. During the training, the soldiers studied the main standard explosive devices and practiced their installation and disarming skills.
On January 19, during a training with a group of UAV operators of the Chest’ special forces detachment, the soldiers continued to study the peculiarities of working with FPV drones. In addition to repeating and consolidating the theoretical foundations of UAV components and the implementation of various remote control schemes, the UAV operators improved their skills in the basic elements of aerobatics. It was noted that additional training was being provided to the drone maintenance team. In addition, practical exercises were introduced into the training program and UAV countermeasures skills are being actively developed. Additionally, the skills of countering UAVs using smoothbore hunting rifles were practiced.
On January 19, ф firearms training was conducted with the Chest’ special forces detachment on the territory of the tactical camp of the 2nd Militia Brigade (military unit 3310). Under the guidance of instructors with combat experience (former mercenaries of PMC Wagner), the soldiers of the detachment improved their skills in the use of weapons. The main focus was on individual training: they practiced rapid reloading, shooting on the move and from non-standard positions.
On January 21, the press service of the Internal Troops reported that a training session with “volunteer” units was being held in the 3rd Special Forces Brigade (military unit 3214). For two weeks, reserve servicemen will hone skills in firearms, tactical and military-medical training. After verification of data, the “special forces veterans” were assigned to training platoons, issued equipment and checked gas masks. The event is attended by “volunteers” from the Smerch special forces detachment (consisting of the assigned personnel of military unit 3214) and Chest’ special forces detachment (consisting of members of the Chest’ association of veterans of special forces detachments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs).
Training sessions are also held in other units of the Internal Troops. For example, the 4th Militia Brigade (military unit 7404, Baranavichy) and one of its units – the 4th Separate Special Militia Battalion (military unit 5522, Hrodna), as well as the 2nd Militia Brigade (military unit 3310). In total, several hundred people were drafted to them.
Other
The operation to deploy Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus was unique in terms of speed and secrecy. This was stated by Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin in an interview with state media. According to him, “It was decided at the level of the Russian president and [Lukashenka] that we should return these [nuclear] weapons. The corresponding task was assigned to the defense ministries of Russia and Belarus, where we also quickly decided how we would carry out this process. I will not disclose all the details, but I will say that the operation was unique in terms of speed and secrecy.”
On January 26, Aliaksandr Lukashenka spoke at a press conference about the deployment of the Russian Oreshnik missile system in Belarus. According to him, the plans to deploy the system are a response to “the desire and possibility of the Americans to deploy medium-range missiles in Europe.” Speaking about the possible location of the deployment, Lukashenka said, “There, closer to Smolensk,” referring to eastern Belarus. He later added, “It doesn’t matter whether it will be in Smolensk or Orsha. It doesn’t matter to us. But it is important for us that American medium-range missiles do not reach the territory of Europe, because they can be equipped with a nuclear component.”
