Combat training, activities of the Internal Troops and territorial defense.
During the week, ≈38 Russian drones of the Shahed type flew into Belarus. Most of them subsequently flew to Ukraine. According to unconfirmed information, several drones may have been shot down by the Belarusian Armed Forces.
The 15th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade received a battery set of the Tor-M2K SAM system. The Belarusian Armed Forces have a total of seven battery sets of the system at their disposal.
On November 23, more than 8,000 citizens drafted for compulsory military service in the Belarusian Armed Forces took the military oath. About 1,600 more recruits joined the ranks of the Border Guard Service.
The 740th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment received new battery command posts made in Belarus. The artillery units will be supplied with attack UAVs.
International cooperation
On November 18, Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin had a protocol meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Belarus Zhang Wenchuan in Minsk. During the meeting, the parties noted the importance of further strengthening the bilateral relations in the military sphere, which have the character of “all-weather and all-round strategic partnership.” The parties discussed ways to further intensify the main areas of Belarusian-Chinese military cooperation in the near future.
On November 18-21, a delegation from the Command Academy of the Air Force of the People’s Liberation Army of China visited Minsk. During the meeting of the delegation with Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Belarus Andrei Lukyanovich, the main directions of Belarusian-Chinese cooperation in the military sphere were discussed, as well as prospects for their further development. On November 20, the Chinese delegation visited the Military Academy. During the visit, a briefing was held, during which the Chinese military were told in detail about the order of training at the academy.
On November 18-21, a delegation from the Department of Economy and Finance of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan visited Belarus. The delegation met with the head of the main financial and economic department of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus to exchange views on the financial provision of the armed forces of Belarus and Kazakhstan. New areas of interaction and prospects for their development were also discussed.
On November 20, it was reported that a conference “Applied Aspects of Scientific Activity in the Field of Defense and Security of the CSTO Member States” was held in Minsk. The conference addressed the issues of ensuring the security of CSTO member States, the development of types of operational (combat) support in the interests of the CSTO troops (Collective Forces), technical equipment, technical and logistical support for the CSTO Collective Rapid Response Forces. Reports were heard on everything, from the direct combat use of mechanized and tank units to medical support. Reports on communications equipment and the use of UAVs were also included.
Results of the academic year
On November 19, Pavel Muraveika, the Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces, summarized the performance of officials of the structural units of the General Staff, the headquarters of armament and logistics of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus, and the Belarusian Armed Forces associations based on the results of the 2023/2024 academic year. The event gave an objective assessment of the results of the work of officials at all levels, highlighted the achievements and existing shortcomings, identified ways to prevent them in future activities. Also during the week, training sessions were reported with officials of the missile and artillery armament service, territorial defense management bodies, as well as the Department of International Military Cooperation of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus.
On November 21-22, a training session for the command staff of the Signal Troops and summarizing the results of training for the 2023/2024 academic year took place. The tasks of the training session included the presentation of the main directions of development of the system and Signal Troops of the Belarusian Armed Forces in 2025, improvement of training of the personnel of the communication units, as well as the command staff of mechanized, tank and airborne units in the operation of modern communications equipment and systems coming into service.
On November 19-21, a combat training session was held in Hrodna district on the topic: “Teaching the most effective techniques and methods of performing combat tasks, taking into account the experience of combat operations during the [war] in Ukraine.” The purpose of the training session was to familiarize the trainees with the methodology of the exercises and how to improve the educational material resources, to provide the trainees with reference material, and to show the variants, peculiarities of training, tactical techniques and methods, taking into account the experience of the war in Ukraine.
On November 20, participants in the training session at the Hozhski training ground got acquainted with the methodology of firearms training, the peculiarities of preparing for combat in a confined space and the use of various types of modern training ground equipment. The event also included target designation and aviation guidance, counter-battery warfare, firing from tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and APCs from a closed firing position, the peculiarities of the organization of air defence and the training of air defence units in combat operations, tactical medicine and the psychological training of servicemen.
On November 21, the head of the main combat training department of the Belarusian Armed Forces said that a special feature of the 2023/2024 academic year (begins on December 1) was the conduct of combat coordination events outside of training grounds, in unfamiliar terrain. The focus was on training troops in new ways of fighting (e.g., small group operations, firing tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers from closed firing positions, use of drones). Bilateral drills with units of the 6th and 11th Mechanized Brigades were also reported to have been conducted “with good quality.” And Missile and Artillery Troops received “good practice” at the Kapustin Yar training ground in Russia.
Combat training
On 23 November, Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin at the ceremony of taking the military oath by the new recruits announced a significant revision of the combat training program and approaches to its organization. According to the official, “The main part of the training is, of course, field training. The basis will be tactics, firearms training, engineering training, tactical medicine, countering drones and other subjects. And of course, physical training, which, above all, is necessary for young guys to bear the loads that will be imposed on them.”
On November 24, in an interview with VoyenTV, Ruslan Chekhau, the head of the Missile and Artillery Troops Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, spoke about plans to hold counter-battery drills at one of Russia’s training grounds in 2025. During the drills, launches from missile systems and MLRS will be conducted at “maximum ranges.” Speaking about combat training in general, Chekhau noted that units are learning to operate in a complex electronic and air environment, autonomously and in a dispersed manner.
Flights of Russian UAVs into Belarus
On November 19, at least 1 Russian UAV of the Shahed type flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine. It subsequently flew to Ukraine. The Belarusian Air Force was not used to intercept the UAV.
On November 19 and 20, at least 11 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine. Later, three UAVs flew to Ukraine, and another one – to Russia. The Belarusian Air Force was not used to intercept the UAVs.
On November 22, at least 14 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine and Russia. Subsequently, 8 UAVs flew to Ukraine. A fighter of the Belarusian Air Force was used to intercept the UAVs. According to unconfirmed information, one drone was shot down.
On November 24, at least 12 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine. Later, part of the UAVs flew to Ukraine. A fighter of the Belarusian Air Force was used to intercept the UAVs.
On November 24, the state media reported that there had already been examples of the Mi-35M helicopter destroying drones that violated the airspace of Belarus. It was not specified which drones were destroyed using the helicopter.
Rearmament
On November 19, it became known that the 740th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment received new battery command posts made in Belarus. The delivery of a batch of the modernized Osa SAM systems is also expected.
On November 21, at an event dedicated to the Day of Missile and Artillery Troops, Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin said that the personnel had successfully mastered the Polonez-M MLRS. In addition, the serial production and delivery to the troops of the BelGrad-2 MLRS was organized. The modernized Uragan-MB MLRS combat vehicle was also successfully tested.
On November 21, another battery set of the Tor-M2K SAM systems was delivered to Belarus from Russia. It was reported that the systems delivered to Belarus had been finalized by the designers taking into account the experience of their use in Ukraine. It was not specified what exactly the modification consisted of. The system will be transferred to the 15th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade. Taking into account the new delivery, the Belarusian Armed Forces have 7 SAM battery sets.
On November 24, Ruslan Chekhau, the head of the Missile and Artillery Troops Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, spoke about the development of the branch of the Armed Forces in an interview with VoyenTV. According to the official, the main directions of development of the Missile and Artillery Troops for the near future are: 1) development of the theory of application of the Missile and Artillery Troops; 2) development of reconnaissance means (priority is given to drones and radar stations for counter-battery warfare); 3) development of fire control means (priority is given to modernization of the Uragan and Grad MLRS, as well as the entire line of self-propelled artillery systems). Chekhau separately emphasized the development of counter-battery warfare. Specifically, the delivery of fire control automation systems to the troops, as well as the transfer of attack UAVs into service.
According to Chekhau, drones are used at all levels of artillery units, from a mortar battery to an artillery brigade. For example, mortar batteries have multirotor UAVs (quadcopters). The artillery divizions of mechanized brigades have aircraft-type UAVs. And in the artillery brigade of the operational association (probably meant the 231st Artillery Brigade), there has been a UAV detachment since 2024 (armed with long-range aircraft-type UAVs).
Military commissariats
On November 18, demonstrative exercises with the personnel of military commissariats of Vitsiebsk region, representatives of village executive committees and organizations of Talochyn district were held in Talochyn. The exercises covered the order of work of notification and collection points of village executive committees on notification, collection and delivery of mobilization resources to the collection points; the order of military transport duty; organization and maintenance of military registration in organizations.
On November 18, the military commissariat of Vitsiebsk, Vitsiebsk and Liozna districts held an open mobile trial to consider a criminal case on evasion of conscription (part 1 of article 435 of the Criminal Code). The court found the conscript guilty and sentenced him to 1 year of imprisonment with a one-year suspended sentence.
On November 20-21, a mobilization training session of officials of the mobilization bodies of the troops and military commissariats was held in Mahiliou. The program of the training session included theoretical and practical exercises on the territory of the military commissariat and city enterprises. The participants of the training session were shown how to organize the protection and defense of military commissariat facilities, as well as how to repel an attack on the military commissariat.
On November 19, an open mobile trial was held in the military commissariat of Lida district, where a criminal case on evasion of conscription (part 1 of article 435 of the Criminal Code) was considered. The court found the conscript guilty and sentenced him to 10 months of imprisonment.
On November 21, an open mobile trial was held in the military commissariat of Baranavichy, Baranavichy and Liakhavichy districts, where a criminal case on evasion of conscription (part 1 of Article 435 of the Criminal Code) was considered. The court found the conscript guilty and sentenced him to 360 hours of community service.
In the 2023/2024 academic year, the military commissariat of Maladzechna and Valozhyn districts drafted more than 330 conscripts for training sessions. And during the spring and fall conscription, about 275 conscripts were drafted for compulsory military service and service in the reserve.
Staffing of the troops
On November 23, more than 8000 citizens drafted for compulsory military service in the Belarusian Armed Forces took the military oath. Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin said at the ceremony, “The problem of understaffing, which existed for some time in the Armed Forces, has been solved for two years now. Today, there are more guys who are ready to serve in the army than there are positions.”
Support of the Lukashenka regime for Russian aggression against Ukraine
Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT) may be involved in the production of the Kedr missile system, which was used by Russia to strike Dnipro on November 21. It is known that the Titan-Barrikady Federal Research and Production Center was involved in the development of the Kedr. The enterprise is one of the largest recipients of MZKT products. Therefore, there is every reason to believe that the Belarusian-made chassis could have been used in the Kedr missile system.
Internal Troops
On November 9, servicemen of the Internal Troops drafted for compulsory service during the fall conscription took the military oath. There was contradictory information about the total number of conscripts who were sent to staff units of the Internal Troops. On November 6, the press service of the Internal Troops said that “more than 1000 guys will take the oath of allegiance to the Motherland.” And on November 9, this figure increased to “more than 1500 servicemen.” Based on the analysis of data from open sources, we can state that ≈ 1438 conscripts were sent to staff the units.
The new recruits in the 4th Militia Brigade (military unit 7404), under the guidance of “instructors with combat experience,” practiced the procedure for operating a weapon in a sudden encounter with the enemy, shooting from a “comfortable and uncomfortable” shoulder, changing magazines.
Border guard bodies
On November 23, about 1600 recruits drafted for compulsory military service in the Border Guard bodies took the military oath.
Ministry of Internal Affairs
On November 19-22, command-staff drills were held in Belarus under the leadership of Interior Minister Ivan Kubrakou. The drills were held in Minsk, regional and district centers. During the drills, units of the MIA demonstrated their readiness to promptly respond to possible complications in the country during the “election campaign.”
