Review of military events in Belarus on January 27- February 2
Combat training, activities of the Internal Troops and territorial defense.
From January 27 to February 2, 23 Russian drones of the Shahed type were detected in Belarus’ airspace. On January 28, one of them was shot down by the air defense in Mazyr district.
The Rosa RB low-altitude target detection radar system was put on combat duty in the 2284th Separate Radio-Technical Battalion. Its main advantage is its ability to detect targets at an altitude of 1 meter.
Training classes for drone operators were opened in the 6th and 11th Mechanized Brigades. Simulators were installed in the classrooms to enable operators to improve their skills in operating UAVs.
A service center for the repair of air defense equipment is being established on the basis of the 2566th radio-electronic weapons repair plant. The new unit is being formed in cooperation with the Russian military-industrial complex.
The construction of eight new border outposts continues on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border. The construction of two outposts (Hrabiani, Baravoye) have been completed, and two more (Siamionauka, Naroulia) are under acceptance.
International cooperation
On January 28, it was reported that a military delegation headed by Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Air Force Mahmoud Fouad Abd El Gawad was on a working visit to Belarus. During the visit, the delegation held negotiations with Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Belarus Andrei Lukyanovich. The parties discussed prospects for further cooperation and expressed mutual interest in strengthening contacts within the air force. The Egyptian delegation also visited aviation military units of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Belarus.
Following the visit, a protocol of intentions was signed. Each of the parties expressed readiness to develop further cooperation in the following areas: international legal and regulatory relations, international and military-technical co-operation, military education, combat training, and countering threats from the use of UAVs.
On January 29, Head of the Department of International Military Cooperation Valery Revenka met with Ambassador of Cuba to Belarus Santiago Perez Benitez. The parties exchanged views on topical issues on the international agenda, discussed the current state of bilateral military cooperation, as well as prospects and directions for its further development. The meeting included accreditation of the military, naval and air attachés of the Cuban Embassy to the Ministry of Defense of Belarus.
On January 28-30, a delegation from the Military Research Institute of the National Defense University of Azerbaijan visited Belarus. As part of the program, the delegation visited the Research Institute of the Belarusian Armed Forces. During the meeting with Deputy Chief of the General Staff for scientific work Viktar Tumar and the Institute’s management, the experience in the field of military science was exchanged. They discussed current areas of research in the spheres of artificial intelligence and robotics, training of scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel of higher qualification, joint research, as well as organization of conferences, seminars and round tables. The delegation also visited the Military Academy.
On January 31, a working meeting of the delegation led by the military attaché of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Belarus Ularbek Abykeev with the leadership of the Faculty of General Staff of the Military Academy was held at the faculty. The issues of training Kazakh servicemen were discussed during the meeting.
Combat training
On January 8-23, a training session with commanders and snipers of groups of (special) military commandant’s offices, as well as with the commander and snipers of the special platoon of the commandant’s battalion of the Minsk military commandant’s office, was held on the base of the 103rd Airborne Brigade. During the training session, the snipers worked in pairs, practicing various scenarios as close as possible to real combat situations.
On January 26, it became known that servicemen of the 22nd Separate Special Forces Company practiced the tactics of assaulting the trenches of a conditional enemy. It is noted that this element is an integral part of the combat training of servicemen.
On January 28, it was reported that patrolling procedures were practiced with members of the 78th Mechanized Battalion. During the patrols, they interacted with local residents, establishing contacts and gathering information on the situation on the ground.
On January 28, a military council was held under the leadership of Commander of the Northwestern Operational Command Aliaksandr Bas. At the meeting, officials of the Northwestern Operational Command discussed topical issues related to the daily activities of the troops. According to A. Bas, a number of operational and combat training activities are planned for this year, the result of which will be participation in the West-2025 joint strategic drills.
On January 28-29, a set of measures on the transfer from peacetime to wartime was held in Minsk military commandant’s office. The main purpose was to examine the degree of training of servicemen and their coordination in actions when bringing the military unit to the highest degrees of combat readiness. On the second day of the drills, firearms training was conducted with personnel drafted from the reserve. In addition, the practical actions of units were practiced in carrying out assigned tasks. In particular, the personnel of the Commandant’s battalion practised the standard of searching for and apprehending a serviceman who had left the unit unauthorized with a weapon.
On January 29, it became known that one of the mechanized battalions of the 6th Mechanized Brigade held comprehensive exercises with live firing of squads at the Hozhski training ground. They were prepared taking into account the tasks worked out during the combat training session of the Belarusian Armed Forces and the tactical training session with battalion (divizion) commanders.
The servicemen practiced combat work in twos and threes, the dropping of grenades from a quadcopter and a number of other elements. During the exercises, the battalion carried out the tasks of positioning on the spot, moving to the specified line, attacking a conditional enemy, storming a trench and then repelling an attack by an enemy assault group. A special feature of the training was the use of electronic devices with a loaded coded map of the area. The training was the final stage of the motorized rifle squads’ alignment. Up ahead – the alignment of platoons.
On January 30, at the Hozhski training ground, servicemen from one of the tank battalions of the 6th Mechanized Brigade carried out training firing exercises using the armament of the T-72B tank.
On January 30, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Andrei Serdzyukou held a briefing. During the briefing, it was noted that the following drills would be held in Belarus in September: Interaction-2025 with the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces, Search-2025 with intelligence forces and means, and Echelon-2025 with logistics forces and means. The intentions of these drills are planned to be closely linked to the objectives of the West-2025 joint strategic drills.
On January 30, drills to protect military facilities and neutralize UAVs using turrets were successfully conducted in the 74th Separate Signal Regiment. During the training, various attack scenarios and ways to repel them were practiced. The drills demonstrated the high level of training of the servicemen and the effectiveness of the equipment used.
On January 30, a command-staff mobilization training took place in the 740th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment. During the training, the military unit’s officials improved their skills in conducting mobilization activities in accordance with established deadlines. The training successfully achieved its goals, and the personnel consolidated their knowledge of mobilization training in practice.
On January 31, it was reported that the self-propelled cannon (2S5 Giatsint-S) and heavy howitzer (2A65 Msta-B) artillery divizions of the 111th Artillery Brigade were marching to the field drills site.
Soldiers of the 38th Air Assault Brigade are conducting combat training exercises at the Brestski training ground. The personnel performed firing from BTR-82A armament, small arms, firearms training norms and other tasks. During the engineering training, servicemen underwent practical training in subversion. And snipers continued to master standard weapons. The servicemen will soon demonstrate their skills at tactical drills.
On January 31, it was reported that soldiers of the 841st Artillery Group of the 11th Mechanized Brigade went to scheduled field drills. The units are marching in a combined manner. Howitzer self-propelled (2S1 Gvozdika) and rocket (Grad MLRS) artillery divizions are involved in the drills.
On February 1, personnel of the 1st Anti-Aircraft Missile Divizion of the 56th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment marched to the site of field drills.
Situation on the border with Ukraine
On January 28, the official representative of the State Border Committee, Anton Bychkovsky, said, “Currently, the situation [on the border with Ukraine] is controlled. Border service bodies are carrying out their tasks in a reinforced mode without losing vigilance. Despite the fact that recently we can state a general trend towards normalization of the situation.” According to him, there are about 15 thousand Ukrainian troops near the border with Belarus. At the same time, the Ukrainian border guards “have been behaving calmly and professionally” lately.
Flights of Russian UAVs into Belarus
From January 27 to February 2 about 23 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type were detected in the airspace of Belarus.
On the night of January 27-28, 9 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type were detected in Belarus’ airspace flying from the territory of Ukraine. It was reported that one of the drones was shot down by air defense forces in Mazyr district. The fate of the rest of the UAVs is unknown. The Belarusian Air Force was not involved in the interception of the UAVs.
On January 28, the official representative of the State Border Committee Anton Bychkovski said that in 2024, UAVs violated the Belarusian-Ukrainian border about 20 times (according to the chairman of the State Border Committee Kanstantsin Molastau – 17). In total, about 350 UAV flights were recorded in this area. The official did not specify which countries launched the drones. However, since July 2024, Russian UAVs (mostly of the Shahed type) have been regularly recorded in the airspace of Belarus, most often coming from Ukraine.
According to Belarusian Hajun, 395 UAVs (390 – Shahed, 5 – reconnaissance) were recorded in Belarus’ airspace in 2024. Of these, 381 came from the territory of Ukraine. These data are comparable to the announced statistics. Thus, the information of the State Border Committee confirms the scale of flights of Russian Shahed UAVs in the airspace of Belarus.
On January 29, one Russian UAV of the Shahed type from the territory of Ukraine was detected in the airspace of Belarus. The fate of the drone remains unknown. The Belarusian Air Force was not involved in the interception of the UAV.
On January 31, 7 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type were detected in Belarus’ airspace flying from the territory of Ukraine. Two Shahed 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 February 1, 3 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type were detected entering the airspace of Belarus from the territory of Ukraine and Russia. One Shahed drone subsequently flew to the territory of Ukraine, while the fate of the others remains unknown. The Belarusian Air Force was not involved in the interception of the UAVs.
On February 2, 3 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type were detected in the airspace of Belarus flying from the territory of Ukraine and Russia. All Shahed drones subsequently flew 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. Infrastructure development
On January 25, in an interview with state media, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces for scientific work Viktar Tumar told about the achievements of Belarusian military science. According to him, in the first half of 2024, as a result of the experimental design work “Metrologist”, the Belarusian Armed Forces adopted a mobile laboratory of measuring equipment. As part of the Gyroplane design and development work, the development of a manned multifunctional special-purpose system based on a gyroplane is being finalized. The prototype has successfully passed state tests, and the work is at the final stage. Four more such projects are underway and will be completed in 2025.
On January 28, a working meeting was held in Barysau between the enterprises of the State Authority for Military Industry (2566th plant for repair of radio-electronic weapons, Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant) and representatives of the Russian VKO Concern Almaz-Antey. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus. During the meeting, they discussed the establishment of a service center for repair of air defense equipment on the basis of the 2566th plant.
On January 29, a training classroom for UAV operators was opened at the 11th Mechanized Brigade. Six workstations were installed in the classroom. The brigade plans to open another such classroom.
On January 29, it was reported that the workshop for FPV drone development is actively functioning in the 6th Mechanized Brigade. In it, soldiers are engaged in upgrading and optimizing UAVs, designing drop systems, and developing technologies that improve the brigade’s combat effectiveness and the operational readiness of units. The workshop is an important center of innovation, enabling the brigade to implement advanced solutions and improve the effectiveness of combat missions.
On January 29, it became known that the Rosa-RB low-altitude target detection radar system was put on combat duty in Brest region. The system was deployed in one of the units of the 2284th Separate Radio-Technical Battalion, which is part of the 8th Radio-Technical Brigade and is based in Skoki (Brest district). In addition, the battalion has two radio-technical centers in Kamianets district and Biaroza district. The main advantage of the system is its ability to detect targets at an altitude of 1 meter from the ground.
On January 31, a training classroom with FPV drone control simulators was opened at the 6th Mechanized Brigade. This event was an important milestone in mastering modern technology for combat conditions. The classroom is equipped with simulators that allow UAV operators to hone their drone control skills and improve the efficiency of combat missions performance.
On January 30, it became known that training centers for UAV operators, including FPV drones, were established on the basis of mechanized formations of the Western Operational Command.
Military commissariats. Territorial defense
On January 28-30, the territorial defense forces of Homiel district held tactical drills with the participation of territorial troops and Engineering Troops of the Belarusian Armed Forces. The purpose of the drills was to improve commanders’ skills in managing territorial troops, as well as to train personnel to perform the tasks of territorial defense in cooperation with the Belarusian Armed Forces. The drills also involved the structures of the Inspectorate of Wildlife Protection.
During the drills, a number of tasks were practised, including providing territorial troops with ammunition and organizing its dispersal and storage in the area where combat training tasks were to be carried out. Reconnaissance in forested and swampy terrain, enemy advance routes and the organization of ambush operations were worked out. A special feature of the drills was the practice of using territorial troops to maintain and cover positions and places of task execution with mine-explosive and non-explosive barriers, the creation of a system of engineering barriers and their maintenance, as well as the engineering equipment and fortification of the main defensive lines and positions.
On January 28, in accordance with the training plan, training activities on the deployment of territorial defense in Lahoisk district were carried out. The drills included notification and gathering of conscripts assigned to the territorial troops, as well as the deployment of a reception point for personnel. Exercises were held with reserve officers. For training purposes, the objects to be taken under protection by the territorial troops will be equipped.
On January 28-30, exercises were held at the Military Academy on the basis of the educational program of the training course “Preparation of State Defense” for officials of state administration bodies.
On January 30, in Liozna (Vitsiebsk region), reserve officers were trained in tactical, topographical and communication training. The classes practiced the organization of work at the command posts of territorial troops.
On January 30, the district police inspectors of Maladzechna District Executive Committee held a training on “The procedure of interaction between officials of military commissariats and employees of internal affairs bodies to establish the whereabouts of citizens subject to conscription for compulsory military service.” The police officers were explained the procedure for searching for persons hiding from conscription. They also exchanged experience and discussed issues aimed at improving the effectiveness of cooperation and enforcement of legislation in the search for conscripts.
On January 30, 20 conscripts, who had completed the training session in the 5th Special Forces Brigade, arrived at the military commissariats of Brest and Minsk regions, as well as Minsk city. It was noted that the reservists had previously served in the brigade, and it was not the first time the training session was held.
On January 31, exercises were held at the military commissariat of Biaroza district with the administration of the station for preliminary gathering of conscripts, during which the practical work of the station was discussed.
On January 31, the training session with conscripts of the territorial troops in Homiel district was completed. About 200 people were drafted to the training session from the reserve. According to the chairman of Homiel regional executive committee Ivan Krupko, the conscripts were drafted in Dobrush and Homiel districts. A rifle battalion of the territorial troops was formed during the drills. Also, according to the official, in 2025 drills with territorial defense will be held in every district of Homiel region.
Internal Troops
On January 27, it became known that on the basis of the 6th Separate Special Militia Battalion (military unit 5526), a training session was held with reserve soldiers. About 60 reservists were drafted. Also, ≈ 100 reservists were drafted for a training session in the 4th Separate Special Militia Battalion (military unit 5522) and the 1st Militia Brigade (military unit 5448).
On January 30, it was reported that a training session with fighters of the Chest’ and Smerch “volunteer” special forces detachments continued. The reserve servicemen practiced detention of offenders, as well as tactics to combat sabotage and reconnaissance groups and illegal armed groups. They also practiced firearms training. It was noted that “veterans of special forces” have been regularly attending training sessions for several years. Trainings with reservists are also conducted by instructors with combat experience.
In an interview with state media on January 31, the commander of the Rys’ special forces detachment, Dzmitry Manko, spoke about changes in the organizational and staff structure of the detachment and other innovations. Thus, the detachment has an unmanned aviation center (only the Berkut detachment has such a structure). In 2024, the detachment also added an explosive engineering center.
In addition, deliveries of new equipment continued. The detachment was supplied with special combat vehicles (it was not specified which ones). For combat duty in the border zone, the Rys’ detachment received an aeroboat and a swampmobile. The modernization of small arms continues: servicemen are equipped with collimator sights and night vision devices.
Border guard authorities
On January 28, the State Border Committee held a press tour for foreign journalists at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border. Among other things, the journalists were shown the performance of tasks by border guards at the international checkpoint “Novaya Huta”, as well as a section of the border. According to the official representative of the State Border Committee of Belarus, Anton Bychkouski, the border service of Belarus takes measures to combat UAVs. In particular, border guards are armed with radio-electronic rifles, pump-action weapons “to prevent the violation of the state border by drones.”
On January 30, Lukashenka received a report from chairman of the State Border Committee Kanstantsin Molastau on the situation on the border. The report resulted in the approval of the decision to protect the state border by the Border Guard Service in 2025.
The Chairman of the State Border Committee also spoke about the state of the Border Guard. According to him, in 2025, the priority tasks will be to build up the system of forces and means of the Border Guard Service, equipping them with modern weapons and equipment. The focus is on improving the combat training of servicemen, field training of maneuver groups, and ensuring the readiness of border guards to stop provocations on the border.
The implementation of investment programs, infrastructure development, and preparation of the mobilization reserve will continue. The border service and its technical equipment are being improved, and the engineering infrastructure is being strengthened. It was noted that border protection is a deeply echeloned system: it is carried out not only along the state border line, but also within the border territory.
Within the framework of the state program “Border Security for 2021-2025”, guard lines and automated technical observation posts have been equipped, alarm systems have been deployed, and rapidly deployable sensors have been installed.
Two complexes of border outposts (Hrabiani and Baravoye) of Mazyr border guard detachment were commissioned under state investment programs. Two more outposts (Siamionauka of Homiel border guard group and Naroulia of Mozyr border guard detachment) are at the stage of being approved. The construction of eight complexes of border outposts continues on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.
Within the framework of the Development of Border Security of the Union State program (until 2027), a high-tech unit is being created on the basis of the A. Kizhevatov border guard post of the Brest border guard group. Its formation will make it possible to increase the reliability of border protection, move from patrolling to real-time response to changes in the situation, and optimize the staff structure.
In order to increase the effectiveness of manned and unmanned aviation in border security, aviation units have been reorganized. Now gyroplanes are used centrally and their maintenance and supply are ensured. Positions of UAV operators have been introduced in border guard units.
Other
On January 27, it became known about the signing of Decree No. 36, which clarifies the provisions of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces. In particular, the functions of the Ministry of Defense were expanded with provisions on the implementation of measures on patriotic education in the Belarusian Armed Forces, while the functions of the General Staff were expanded to include coordination of the activities of the power component of the military organization of the state “on issues of ensuring military security and armed defense.”
On February 2, State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aliaksandr Valfovich said that at the moment he saw no signs of unleashing aggression against Belarus. Answering the question about the probability of escalation of the situation, Valfovich said, “We can’t rule it out. Today, at least, we see no signs that would threaten and suggest the unleashing of any potential aggression against the Republic of Belarus. As of today, we do not see them. But the number of drills and the steps taken by the coalition of Western countries, of course, they bother us.”