Review of military events in Belarus on December 23-January 5
Combat training, activities of the Internal Troops and territorial defense.
From December 23 to January 5, 45 Russian drones of the Shahed type were recorded in Belarus’ airspace. The destruction of the drones by the Belarusian Armed Forces was not reported.
The flight restriction zone for all types of civil aircraft (including drones) in the south of Belarus has been extended until the end of March. The flight restrictions were introduced on February 24, 2022 and have been extended several times since then.
The State Authority for Military Industry has completed work on the development of the Sapsan system for countering drones. The system provides search, detection, escort, electronic suppression and fire suppression of enemy drones.
A specialized class for the training of drone operators was opened at the military faculty of BSUIR. By September 1, 2025, it is planned to open 16 more such classes at universities with military faculties or military departments.
International cooperation
On December 26, the State Authority for Military Industry reported that the head of the agency, Dzmitry Pantus, was on a working visit to Russia. During the first day of the visit, Pantus held meetings and negotiations with the leadership of Rosoboronexport, Uralvagonzavod and Almaz-Antey VKO Concern. During the meetings, the parties summarized the results of joint work in 2024, as well as identified the main areas of cooperation for 2025. During the second day of the visit, negotiations were held with the director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia, the management of the joint-stock companies National Aviation Service Company and Technodynamika.
Units of the Belarusian Armed Forces in the border area
On December 24, it was reported that chairman of Hrodna Regional Executive Committee Uladzimir Karanik, commander of the troops of the Western Operational Command Vadzim Surau and others “congratulated the servicemen who perform the tasks of strengthening the state border of Belarus.” The officials visited units of the Belarusian Armed Forces, got acquainted with the conditions of accommodation of the personnel. It was noted that mechanized, artillery and anti-aircraft missile units, as well as UAV crews perform tasks to reinforce the border together with the border guards.
On December 29, it was reported that chairman of Homiel Regional Executive Committee Ivan Krupko, commander of the Northwestern Operational Command Aliaksandr Bas and others “visited the section of the state border where the servicemen of one of the mechanized brigades perform assigned tasks.” It was noted that the tasks to reinforce the border are performed by “mechanized, tank, communicators, reconnaissance units, artillery divizions, UAV crews.”
On December 29, it was reported that servicemen of the 120th Mechanized Brigade in Mazyr were congratulated on the upcoming holidays by Commander of the Northwestern Operational Command Aliaksandr Bas, Chairman of Mazyr District Executive Committee Yelena Paulechka, etc.
Combat training
New recruits of the Belarusian Armed Forces made 50-kilometer marches. The event is the final stage of military drivers’ training. During the march, the servicemen practiced driving skills as part of a convoy, as well as actions in various conditions. Upon completion of the march, military drivers are issued with the appropriate vehicle driving license and are awarded the qualification of “3rd class driver.”
Flights of Russian drones into Belarus
On December 23, seven Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flying in Belarus’ airspace from the territory of Ukraine and Russia were recorded. Two drones 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 UAVs.
On December 25, two Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flying in Belarus’ airspace from the territory of Ukraine and Russia were recorded. One drone subsequently returned to the territory of Ukraine, while the fate of the second one remains unknown. The Belarusian Air Force was not involved in the interception of UAVs.
On December 31, eight Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flying in Belarus’ airspace from the territory of Ukraine and Russia were recorded. Six drones 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 UAVs.
On December 26-30, no Russian UAVs of the Shahed type were recorded entering Belarus’ airspace. A total of 145 Russian UAVs were recorded in December. And from July to December 2024 – 395.
On January 1 and 3, 17 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flying from the territory of Ukraine were recorded in Belarus’ airspace. Four drones 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.
On the night of January 3-4, eight Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flying from the territory of Ukraine were recorded in Belarus’ airspace. Five drones 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.
On January 5, three Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flying from the territory of Ukraine were recorded in Belarus’ airspace. The fate of the drones remains unknown. The Belarusian Air Force was not involved in the interception of the UAVs.
A total of about 45 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flew into Belarus from December 23 to January 5.
Rearmament. Work of the military-industrial complex
On December 22, it was reported that the Belarusian Precision Electromechanics Plant and “Russian colleagues” (Splav research and production association, Technodinamika and Research and Production Concern “Machine Building Technologies”) were awarded the prize of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation “Golden Idea” for the organization of production of hull-mechanical parts of the 122-mm rocket projectile for the Grad MLRS in Belarus and their deliveries to Russia.
On December 23, the State Authority for Military Industry announced the completion of development work on the creation of the Sapsan mobile system for countering small UAVs. The system is designed to cover critical facilities from UAVs, provides their search, detection, escort, electronic suppression and fire suppression. Sapsan’s capabilities allow to detect UAVs at a range of 3000 meters (by radar) and 1800 meters (by optical-electronic reconnaissance), as well as to carry out fire defeat at a range of 400 meters. The complex is mounted on the MZKT-500-200 chassis, has an open configuration and can include several reconnaissance and fire modules.
On December 28, the exhibition “My Belarus” dedicated to the achievements of the country over the past 30 years opened in Minsk International Exhibition Center. The Belarusian Armed Forces and the State Authority for Military Industry presented samples of weapons and military equipment at the exhibition. Among the samples are the T-72BM2 tank, Kaiman armored vehicle, BM-21B BelGrad-2 MLRS, R-434 radio relay station, Yastreb gyroplane, etc.
In 2024, 13 samples of weapons, military and special equipment of the State Authority for Military Industry were adopted by the Belarusian Armed Forces. Among them: Buk-MB2 SAM system with 9M38MB anti-aircraft guided missile; 9M318 anti-aircraft guided missile; Berkut-3 UAV; Chekan attack UAV; Shapel multicopter signal detector; Fluger portable multicopter signal detector; Dronoscope multicopter detection and location system; the mobile laboratory of measuring equipment; FPV-drone detection system with video interception function “FPV-scope”; control kits for self-propelled artillery guns; Podorozhnik mobile dressing station; Sapfir light multipurpose grenade launcher system.
On December 26, at the EAEU summit in St. Petersburg, Aliaksandr Lukashenka said that he expects at least ten Oreshnik missile systems to be delivered to Belarus. “If Russians have a desire to deploy more, we will deploy more of them,” the politician added.
Infrastructure development
On December 30, a specialized class for training UAV operators was opened at the military faculty of the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics. Its creation was the result of a meeting held by the Ministry of Defense of Belarus with university rectors in October 2024. The class is equipped with a modern material and technical base, which allows training UAV operators of multi-rotor type. Classes for the first group of students will begin on February 1. Until September 1, 2025, it is planned to open 16 more such classes in universities with military faculties or departments. Student training in these classes will begin on September 12.
According to the head of the Military Education Directorate of the Armed Forces, the class “makes it possible to train cadets of military faculties, reserve officers, as well as civilian students.” A department is being opened at the Military Academy, where both basic training of cadets and special in-depth courses (depending on the military specialty) will be conducted.
According to the head of the Directorate of Application and Development of UAVs of the Armed Forces, “By creating classes [of UAV operator training] at all military faculties and departments, we will cover the need for these specialists for the Armed Forces. All reserve officers will be qualified as UAV operators. And most importantly, [the qualification] will be confirmed by a certificate.” According to the official, the army “needs thousands” of UAV operators. Specialists who will train students and cadets to operate UAVs (quadrocopters / FPV drones) have begun training at the 927th center for training and application of UAVs of the Belarusian Armed Forces. The military faculty of the Belarusian State Academy of Aviation is training operators of airplane-type UAVs.
Military Commissariats. Territorial defense
On December 18, a meeting of the coordination council on territorial defense was held in Malaryta District Executive Committee (Brest region). During the meeting, the results of the activities of the district territorial defense authorities for the past period were summarized and the tasks for 2025 were set.
According to state media, in 2024, 34 people in Svislach district (Hrodna region) were sent for compulsory military service, 1 for reserve service, and 15 for contract service.
On December 30, in an interview with state media, the military commissar of Kletsk district said that the Minister of Defense declared 2025 the “Year of Mobilization” for military commissariats. According to the military commissariat, during the year, “the work will be aimed at reconciling and clarifying the data of the military records of conscripts assigned to the Armed Forces, other troops and military formations.
Internal Troops
On December 22, regular exercises in firearms, tactical, medical, sapper-engineering and UAV operation were held with the Chest’ special forces detachment. Separately, under the guidance of an “instructor with combat experience,” combat training exercises were conducted with a women’s group on tactical and medical training.
In December, exercises on commander training were held with soldiers of the 4th Militia Brigade (military unit 7404). Brigade command officers and battalion commanders participated in the training. The peculiarity of the training was familiarization with the samples of artillery weapons of the Belarusian Armed Forces, studying the performance of firing tasks from closed positions and the combat operation of the observation post of the artillery divizion.
On December 27, at the Faculty of the Internal Troops of the Military Academy, more than 70 servicemen of the Special Rapid Reaction Squad and Special Forces Detachment received certificates of completion of junior officer training courses.
On December 29, regular exercises on firearms, tactical, medical and engineering training of the “volunteer” Chest’ special forces detachment were held. The exercises were conducted by “instructors and specialists with combat experience.” In addition, exercises with a counter-UAV group were held at a specialized training ground.
On January 2, exercises were held with soldiers of the sapper and pyrotechnic group of the “volunteer” Chest’ special forces detachment. During the training, they practiced the installation and neutralization of standard explosives and explosive devices.
Border guard authorities
In 2024, about 600 students were trained at the Border Control Training Center of the Border Guard Institute, 100 of them were customs officials. 68 border guard graduates were awarded the first officer rank of “junior lieutenant / lieutenant.”
Other
On December 20, the 36th graduation of officers took place at the Faculty of Advanced Training and Retraining of Personnel of the Military Academy. A total of 79 servicemen (including 13 women) graduated from the course. 41 graduates were awarded the military rank of “lieutenant” and 38 – “junior lieutenant”.
On December 27, it became known about the extension of the flight restriction zone for all types of civil aircraft (including UAVs) at altitudes up to 19,800 meters in the south of Belarus. The restrictions will be in effect from January 1 to March 31, 2025. The ban on flights in the southern regions of Belarus was introduced on February 24, 2022, and has been repeatedly extended since then.
On December 31, Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin announced plans to build housing for servicemen. According to the official, in 2025 they “plan to build about 500 rental apartments.” Thereafter, it is planned to build 300-400 apartments annually, and “all servicemen will be provided with housing.”