Review of military events in Belarus on December 4-10
International cooperation, combat training, activities of PMC Wagner, etc.
Last week, the Belarusian military visited the EDEX-2023 military exhibition. Negotiations were also held with representatives of the Egyptian Armed Forces and the Defense Ministries of the CIS countries.
Combat readiness training was held in the Belarusian Armed Forces. Mercenaries of PMC Wagner also conducted trainings with servicemen.
The Russian State Duma ratified an agreement with Belarus on the establishment and operation of combat training centers for joint training of military personnel. And in 2024, a new special purpose detachment will be established on the basis of the 1st Militia Brigade of the Internal Troops.
Preparations for the construction of a training ground for the Southern Operational Command of the Belarusian Armed Forces began in Homiel region. It also became known that a department of Russia’s Investigative Committee would be stationed in Kletsk district.
International cooperation
On December 4-7, the III exhibition of armaments and military equipment EDEX-2023 was held in Cairo. A delegation headed by Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces Andrei Lukyanovich took part in the exhibition representing Belarus. During the visit, Lukyanovich held official meetings with the commanders of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the Egyptian Armed Forces. During the meetings, they discussed the participation of Belarus and Egypt in joint combat training activities, as well as cooperation in the modernization of the air defense systems of the countries.
On December 7, head of the Department of International Military Cooperation of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus Valery Revenko met with Secretary of the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS member states Yury Dashkin in Moscow. The parties summarized the results of their work in 2023. The parties confirmed their readiness to hold events of the Work Plan of the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS member states for 2024 in Belarus.
Combat training
During the week, scheduled combat readiness trainings were held in the Belarusian Armed Forces. At the trainings, they practiced the issues of bringing military units into combat readiness and training personnel to act in various conditions. The activities are carried out in accordance with the plan of training after another conscription and mastering of the initial military training program by new recruits. The general orientation of the training is to conduct a set of sequential trainings with all categories of servicemen, divisions, military units, formations and military administration bodies.
At the trainings, a lot of attention was paid to camouflage, protection and defense of military equipment. The focus was on practical training of all tasks. During the trainings, the reception of mobilized reservists into military units was practised. The training also included the deployment of reception points for equipment. The training lasted for three days.
Rearmament. Activity of the military-industrial complex
According to statements by Air Force and Air Defense Forces Commander Andrei Lukyanovich, the army was to receive four more Mi-35M helicopters, four Su-30SM fighters, as well as Rosa, Vostok and Protivnik radars by the end of 2023. There have been no reports on the transfer of this equipment to the troops at the moment. It is unlikely that all this equipment will be handed over within the timeframe announced by the official.
PMC Wagner
PMC Wagner mercenaries conducted fire and tactical training with servicemen of the 51st Artillery Brigade.
Internal Troops
On December 5, a new training season was launched in the Internal Troops. The personnel were trained in security measures, combat, physical and tactical training.
In 2024, a new special purpose detachment will be established on the basis of the 1st Militia Brigade of the Internal Troops. Nine detachments have already been formed in the Internal Troops over the past year.
Amendments to the legislation
On December 5, the Russian State Duma ratified an agreement with Belarus on the establishment and operation of combat training centers for joint training of military personnel. The document was signed on March 28, 2023. Belarus ratified the agreement on July 17. The main tasks of the combat training centers are: joint combat training (duty), exchange of experience on the combat use of military equipment, training in practical skills in operating military equipment, unification of combat training of the Armed Forces, etc.
Military commissariats
Military commissariats throughout the country held trainings related to the start of the new academic year. It was reported that trainings were held with reservists assigned to the administration of the preliminary collection point for persons liable for military service, with reserve officers assigned to territorial defense bodies, with the administrations of the facilities of the base of mobilization, work of the headquarters for notification of persons liable for military service, receipt of materiel, weapons and ammunition, additional staffing of military commissariats with reservists, etc.
Other
In October 2022, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus announced that military equipment, including T-72 tanks, armored personnel carriers and vehicles, had been sent to Russia for modernization. As of December 2023, there was no information about the return of the equipment to Belarus after modernization. This only confirms that the equipment was sent not for modernization, but was handed over to the Russian military. It is known about the transfer of more than 200 pieces of equipment, including T-72A tanks, BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and Ural vehicles.
According to available information, preparations for the construction of a training ground for the forming Southern Operational Command of the Belarusian Armed Forces have begun. Based on the available information, four possible sites where the training ground will be established have been identified. They are located in Homiel and Rechytsa districts.
In June, it became known that the Investigative Committee of Russia established a Military Investigative Department in Belarus. According to available information, the 484th Military Investigative Department became a part of the Military Investigative Directorate for Strategic Missile Troops and is located in Aziarechcha village, Kletsk district. The Baranavichy radar station (Volga radar), which is an element of the Russian missile warning system, is located there.