Review of military events in Belarus on November 11-17
Combat training, activities of the Internal Troops and territorial defense.
During the week, at least 32 Russian drones (mostly Shahed-136/131) flew into Belarus. Most of them subsequently flew to Ukraine. The destruction of drones by the Belarusian Armed Forces was not reported.
On November 13-14, a training session of the command staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces was held in Slutsk. The purpose of the event was to summarize the results of the 2023/2024 academic year in the troops, as well as to set tasks for the new academic year.
A delegation of the State Authority for Military Industry of Belarus took part in the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition. On the margins of the forum, the Belarusian delegation had a number of meetings with the leadership of Chinese and Russian defense companies.
In 2024, the Belarusian Armed Forces adopted the first Belarusian-made kamikaze attack drone Chekan-V into service. Next year, it is planned to start supplying drones to the troops, as well as to form units for their use.
International cooperation
On November 11, the Russian media, citing State Secretary of the Security Council Aliaksandr Valfovich, reported that Belarus and Russia had finalized the Treaty on Security Guarantees of the “Union State. The document is planned to be submitted to the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the “Union State,” which will be held in December. The work on the security concept of the “Union State” has also been finalized: the document will be adopted in 2025. According to Valfovich, the provisions of the document will be published in the near future.
On November 12, a regular meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS member states was held in Moscow. The Belarusian delegation at the meeting was headed by Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin. The participants of the meeting considered the development and improvement of national structures that are the basic elements of joint (unified) military systems, as well as other aspects of military cooperation. Particular attention was focused on the development of joint research and development work by CIS defense agencies.
A delegation of the State Authority for Military Industry of Belarus took part in the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai. On the margins of the exhibition, Chairman of the State Authority for Military Industry Dzmitry Pantus met with Deputy Head of the General Department of Armament and Military Equipment Development of the Central Military Council of China Zhan Shixian. During the meeting the current state of military-technical cooperation between the countries was discussed. The high level of cooperation between Belarusian and Chinese enterprises was noted, as well as the importance of developing cooperation in the field of development and creation of high-tech armaments.
A delegation of the State Authority for Military Industry also met with the leadership of Chinese defense companies: Aerospace Long-March International Trade (ALIT; engaged in import and export of aerospace products and services and creation of satellite communication systems), China Electronic Corporation (CEC; engaged in the development and production of electronics, including military use), China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC; engaged in the development and production of rocket and space systems, including military use), China Electronic Technology Group Corporation (CETC; specializes in the production of communications equipment, military electronics), etc.
During the meetings, the parties discussed promising areas of cooperation between Chinese corporations and Belarusian defense enterprises (including in the space sphere), the development of current projects, etc.
The delegation of the State Authority for Military Industry also held meetings with the leadership of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia, as well as enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex (United Aircraft Corporation and Almaz-Antey Concern). During the meetings, the current interaction in the military-technical sphere between the countries, the progress in the implementation of contracts within the framework of state defense orders, as well as promising projects in various areas were discussed.
On November 15, First Deputy Chairman of the State Authority for Military Industry Aleh Mishchenka held a meeting with a delegation from Kazakhstan led by the country’s Deputy Defense Minister. It was reported that the parties “discussed the whole range of issues of bilateral military-technical cooperation and outlined specific ways of further interaction.”
On November 16, the Belarusian military delegation headed by the First Deputy Head of the Communications Department of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces, Aliaksandr Shebuldayeu, attended a working meeting of the heads of the communications management bodies of the defense agencies of the CSTO member states, which was held in Astana. The meeting addressed issues of improving the communication system of the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces), summarized the results of activities for the reporting period, and held a number of bilateral meetings.
Operational training session of the command staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces
On November 13-14, an operational training session of the command staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces was held on the basis of the 30th Railway Brigade in Slutsk. The purpose of the event was to “develop unified approaches to the training of officials of the military administration bodies and troops, taking into account the focus of the Armed Forces training and the organization of daily activities while solving assigned tasks in the new academic year.” Such events are an integral part of the troops’ training system and are held at the end of each academic year.
On the first day of the training session, a display of weapons and military equipment from various branches of the armed forces was organized. Particular attention was paid to UAVs already in service, as well as electronic warfare equipment. The prototypes manufactured by the enterprises of the State Authority for Military Industry were also demonstrated. Most of the presented samples of military equipment were equipped with various types of anti-drone protection. According to the deputy head of the armored service of the Northwestern Operational Command, “Any additional protection preserves the survivability of armored vehicles and, first of all, of the personnel.”
The participants of the session were also demonstrated a basic area for restoring the combat capability of units after their arrival from the line of contact. According to the first deputy chief of logistics of the Belarusian Armed Forces, the participants were shown options for accommodation of personnel in field conditions in dugouts. All conditions have been created for servicemen. According to the official, such “facilities will also be developed in various places and districts of our republic.”
The result of the first day of the training session was a practical staging of the combat episode “Application of units of the Transport Troops in order to ensure the fulfillment of tasks by the troops.” According to the legend, the enemy damaged bridges over rivers. And units of the transport troops eliminated the damage to the structures.
During the second day of the training session, the participants worked out “a common understanding of the organization and conduct of training activities for military administration bodies, troops, and the solution of comprehensive support tasks in the new academic year, taking into account the modern realities of armed conflicts.” The training session ended with a meeting of the board of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus, which summed up the results of training of the Belarusian Armed Forces in the 2023/2024 academic year, as well as set tasks for the next academic year.
During the training session, Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin summarized the results of the outgoing training period and outlined plans for the future. According to the official, the mass of combat training activities in the form of drills, command-staff drills, sudden inspections, etc., remained intact. The main attention was focused on mastering new tactical techniques based on the analysis of modern warfare. They are based on long-distance marching, grouping, etc., as well as on the creation of groups. The issues of UAV countermeasures, electronic warfare, and tactical medicine are priorities in combat training.
In 2024, about 150 military instructors of the Belarusian Armed Forces underwent special training in Russia. The training of mechanized units at joint “combat training centers” also continued. The training of UAV operators is being developed. For example, the DOSAAF has begun training specialists. Specialized classes are being opened in educational establishments with military faculties or departments. As of the new academic year, a department of combat application of UAVs will be established at the Military Academy, where all cadets (regardless of specialty) will receive appropriate training.
Over the past year, the Belarusian Armed Forces received more than 60 items of modern weapons and military equipment. The equipment of fortified areas continued, “which have become not just facilities, but also a place for training our servicemen.”
The new 2024/2025 academic year has been declared the year of military excellence. The main event of the Belarusian Armed Forces training in 2025 will be the Belarusian-Russian drills West-2025. It is also planned to carry out a set of activities “in accordance with the plan of preparation, sudden inspections and response to all those sudden tasks that may arise”. The Belarusian Armed Forces will take part in drills within the CSTO. Khrenin also announced plans to approve a new course of firing exercises that is more adapted to combat realities.
During the training session, Mikhail Brianski, the head of the Department for the Use and Development of UAVs of the Belarusian Armed Forces, spoke about the development and adoption of new UAVs. According to the official, the development of a new Kvadro-M UAV is being finalized: it is the Kvadro-1400, modernized for dropping munitions. The UAV is planned to be put into service in 2025.
In 2024, the Belarusian Armed Forces adopted the Berkut-3 UAV into service. According to Brianski, it is an improved “analogue of the Russian Supercam, which is well used [in Ukraine].” The first Belarusan-made kamikaze attack drone, Chekan-V, was also put into service. In 2025, it is planned to create units for the use of UAVs and start supplying them to the troops.
Brianski also said that the Belarusian Armed Forces in general (e.g., mechanized brigades) had set up their own production of FPV drones. And the 927th Center for Training and Application of UAVs has established a staff unit – a workshop for assembly and repair of UAVs, “where drones can be assembled without any problems and in sufficiently large quantities.”
And Ruslan Chekhau, the head of the Missile and Artillery Troops Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, noted that in 2024 the Missile Troops accomplished a large number of tasks, primarily related to strengthening the state border. According to the official, the servicemen have completed mastering the Iskander system. The training of units for the operation of the Polonez-M system was also completed.
Speaking about plans for 2025, Chekhau noted that “the development of missile systems will continue.” The development of counter-battery warfare systems, artillery reconnaissance means and modernization of equipment will continue. Thus, it is planned to continue modernizing both MLRS (Grad, Uragan, and Smerch) and “the entire complex of self-propelled guns in service.”
Flights of Russian UAVs into Belarus
On November 11, at least 6 Russian UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine. There is no information about their further fate. The Belarusian Air Force was not used to intercept the UAVs.
On November 12, at least 8 Russian Shahed-136/131 UAVs flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine. At least 4 UAVs later flew to Ukraine. There is no information about the fate of other 4 drones. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 2 UAVs flew to Belarus and disappeared that night. The Belarusian Air Force was not used to intercept the drones.
On the night of November 12 and 13, at least 12 Russian Shahed-136/131 drones flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine. The flights of drones took place over the settlements of Homiel region (Brahin, Homiel, Rechytsa). According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 2 UAVs flew to Belarus that night and disappeared. There is no information about the fate of the other 10 drones. A fighter jet of the Belarusian Air Force was used to intercept the UAVs in the morning of November 13.
On November 14, at least 2 Russian Shahed-136/131 drones flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine. There is no information about the further fate of the UAVs. The Belarusian Air Force was not used to intercept the drones.
On November 16, at least 4 Russian UAVs flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine: reconnaissance and Shahed-136/131. There is no information about their further fate. The Belarusian Air Force was not used to intercept the drones.
Development of infrastructure
A canteen with 680 seats will be built for a military town in Homiel district. The object worth ≈ $3.93 million is planned to be built by March 2026. The declared capacity of the canteen (680 seats) will allow it to provide meals to the soldiers of the entire brigade. Recall that the military town in Homiel district is intended for: 1) units of the forming Southern Operational Command; 2) a new unit (brigade) of the Special Operations Forces.
Military commissariats
On November 12, the military commissariat of Kletsk district sent at least 8 reservists to a training session.
Situation on the Belarus-Ukraine border
On November 13, it was reported that a meeting was held in Stolin (Brest region) between students of educational institutions and servicemen of the Taifun special forces detachment (military unit 5522).
On November 15, it was reported that servicemen of the Rys’ special forces detachment (military unit 5529) held a meeting with students of educational institutions in Naroulia (Homiel region).
Support of the Lukashenka regime for Russian aggression against Ukraine
According to the media, a branch of the Russian company BTK Group, located in Brest, is sewing uniforms for the Russian military. The work is going on around the clock, in two 12-hour shifts. It was reported that one truck of finished products is sent to Russia every week.
Internal Troops
On November 15, it was reported about the completion of “an intensive combat training course for second-year cadets of the Internal Troops Faculty under the guidance of experienced instructors.” During the course, the future officers were able to practice interaction between units, as well as consolidate their skills in tactical, firearms training and topography.
On November 15, it was reported that the 3rd Special Forces Brigade (military unit 3214) had completed a training session on commander training under the guidance of instructors with combat experience (former PMC Wagner mercenaries). According to Aliaksandr Bykau, the deputy commander of the Internal Troops, “our brothers from the Interior Ministry’s Almaz counter-terrorism unit and the Presidential Security Service are also undergoing this training, so we are exchanging experience.” According to one of the instructors, military psychology classes were added to the training session program.
Recruits of the 7th Militia Brigade (military unit 5524) obtained primary skills in operating UAVs. In addition, the men were trained in tactical medicine and military engineering training, and also performed an automatic rifle firing exercise.