Combat training, activities of the Internal Troops and territorial defense.
During the week, ≈57 Russian drones of the Shahed type flew into Belarus. Most of them subsequently flew to Ukraine. According to unconfirmed information, 3 drones could have been shot down by the Belarusian Armed Forces.
The electronic warfare units of the Belarusian Armed Forces received a new batch of the R-934UM2 Groza-6 automated jamming stations. In addition, two more Groza-6 stations will be supplied to the troops in the near future.
On November 28, a batch of equipment was supplied to units of the Signal Troops. Among other things, the Belarusian military received the R-185 Epokha command-staff vehicles, R-142NMB Start radio stations, R-414MBRP Sosna-2 radio relay stations, and “Belarusian analogues of Starlink.”
International cooperation
On November 26, it was reported that a military delegation from Qatar visited Minsk. During the visit, the delegation visited the commands of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Forces, as well as one of the units of the Belarusian Armed Forces. It was noted that “the event will strengthen relations in the military sphere and intensify contacts with Qatari colleagues in areas of mutual interest.” On November 28, Chairman of the State Authority for Military Industry of Belarus Dzmitry Pantus met with the delegation. During the meeting, the parties noted their interest in expanding bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation and discussed a number of promising projects in various areas.
On November 26, it was reported that Chairman of the State Authority for Military Industry Dzmitry Pantus held a meeting with Pakistan’s Minister of Defense and Defense Industry Khawaja Muhammad Asif in Islamabad. During the meeting, the parties confirmed mutual interest in further development of cooperation in the military-technical sphere and outlined promising aspects of cooperation between the countries.
On November 27, a working visit of First Deputy Chairman of the State Authority for Military Industry Aleh Mishchanka to Cuba to participate in the 10th meeting of the Joint Belarusian-Cuban Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation was reported. During the plenary session, the issues of current cooperation were discussed. Perspective projects of cooperation in the military-technical sphere were determined.
On November 27, it became known about the visit of a Belarusian military delegation to Vietnam. The purpose of the visit was “a working meeting on logistics issues.” During the visit, Chief of Staff of Logistics of the Belarusian Armed Forces Aliaksandr Masolau met with Deputy Chief of the Main Department of Logistics of the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam Pham Manh Cuong. The parties noted the importance of maintaining contacts between the departments, discussed the current state of cooperation, and outlined the most important areas for further cooperation.
On November 27, it was reported that a delegation of the Belarusian Armed Forces headed by Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin took part in a joint meeting of the Council of Foreign and Defense Ministers, the CSTO Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils and a session of the CSTO Collective Security Council in Astana. During the meeting, positive decisions were taken on more than 20 issues aimed at developing the military component of the CSTO.
Combat training
Readiness review for the new academic year took place in the 36th Road and Bridge Brigade. According to the brigade’s commander, numerous combat training activities are planned for the 2024/2025 academic year, aimed at combat coordination of squads, platoons, companies, as well as tactical and specialty drills. The culmination of the combat training will be the brigade’s participation in the West-2025 joint strategic drills of the Belarusian Armed Forces and Russian Armed Forces.
On November 27, summarizing the results of the 2023/2024 academic year was held in the 83rd Engineering-Airfield Regiment. It was reported that in 2024, the 83rd Regiment performed tasks to maintain the airfield network of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces in proper condition. The main focus was on major and current repairs of airfields, service and technical buildings, life support systems, as well as equipment and maintenance of helipads. The regiment also took part in the repair of military town facilities.
On November 27, a training session was held in the 30th Railway Brigade with the participation of officers from military units of the Transport Support Department responsible for organizing combat training. The training session focused on equipping the training facilities for training UAV operators. The training session participants also got acquainted with the peculiarities of personnel accommodation in the field.
On November 26, Leanid Kasinski, the head of the Main Department of Ideological Work of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus, said the following during a training session with officers of ideological work bodies: “There is such a good Japanese proverb that says literally the following: ‘After victory, tighten the straps on your helmets.’ Today, the straps on our helmets are very tight.”
On November 29, it was reported that a training class for FPV drone operators is functioning in one of the military units of the Northwestern Operational Command. Modern quadcopters and FPV drones are used to train operators. During the training, experience in the use of UAVs in modern armed conflicts is used. Issues such as mine clearance, artillery fire adjustment, aerial reconnaissance and hand grenade drops are studied. The class improves the quality of training and reduces training time for specialists, as well as enhancing the skills and abilities of already experienced UAV operators.
Flights of Russian UAVs into Belarus
On November 25, at least 26 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine. Later, some UAVs flew back to Ukraine. According to preliminary information, one drone could have been shot down. A fighter of the Belarusian Air Force took off twice to intercept the UAV.
On November 25 and 26, at least 17 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine. Later, some of the UAVs flew back to Ukraine. According to preliminary information, two drones could have been shot down by the air defense forces of the Belarusian Armed Forces in Mazyr district. A fighter of the Belarusian Air Force took off three times to intercept the UAVs.
On November 26 and 27, at least two Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine. There is no information about the further fate of the drones. The Belarusian Air Force was not used to intercept the UAVs.
On November 28, at least 5 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine. There is no information about the further fate of the drones. The Belarusian Air Force was not used to intercept the UAVs.
On December 1, at least 7 Russian UAVs of the Shahed type flew into the airspace of Belarus from Ukraine. The Belarusian Air Force was not used to intercept the UAVs.
Rearmament
On November 28, the State Authority for Military Industry reported about delivery of another batch of the R-934UM2 Groza-6 automated jamming stations to the Belarusian Armed Forces. The number of transferred stations was not specified. Probably, two pieces of R-934UM2 were delivered to the troops. Also, the State Authority for Military Industry reported that “in the near future, ahead of schedule” the Belarusian Armed Forces will receive two more Groza-6 stations. Thus, the total number of R-934UM2 in the Belarusian Armed Forces will be increased to ≈13 pieces.
On November 28, a ceremony of supplying new and modernized communication equipment to the Signal Troops was held in Asipovichy. It was reported that signalmen of 16 units of the Belarusian Armed Forces received new and modernized R-185 Epokha command-staff vehicles, R-142NMB Start combined radios, R-414MBRP Sosna-2 radio relay stations, E-350P mobile charging bases. The military also received ≈ 200 pieces of various wearable communication equipment, including MKS-T mobile communication systems (the so-called “Belarusian analogues of Starlink”). A detailed review of the “Starlink analogues” can be found here.
On November 29, it became known that the 51st Artillery Brigade (military unit 12147) had received modernized BM-21B BelGrad-2 MLRS. The number of the new MLRS that entered service was not reported. It is known that at the end of 2022, a rocket artillery battery armed with the BM-21 Grad MLRS was formed as part of the brigade. Apparently, the unit was recently rearmed with modernized BelGrad-2. In this case, we may be talking about 6 pieces.
Military commissariats. Territorial defense
On November 26, in an interview to state media, Pavel Muraveika, the head of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces, spoke about territorial defense. The official said, “We have been developing territorial defense for 25 years, and national home guard units will be in their second year (we are developing them, holding trainings).” According to Muraveika, there is an appropriate stock of weapons for territorial defense. There is also work “with certain categories of citizens,” who have specific skills. For example, members of the Belarusian Society of Hunters and Fishermen: they started to create “detachments” consisting of members of the organization on the basis of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
On November 26, trainings on the basics of tactical medicine, the use of standard weapons and the procedure for carrying out assigned tasks were held in Brahin district (Homiel region) with volunteers of national home guard detachments.
On November 28, exercises were held at the military commissariat of Vitsiebsk city, Vitsiebsk and Liozna districts with the heads and officials of state bodies of organizations responsible for the execution of military transport duty.
On November 28-29, the military commissariat of Barysauski and Krupki districts held exercises with the objects of mobilization of citizens and vehicles. During the training, the tasks of mobilization activities were practiced. Similar events were held in Vileika, Shklou and Mahiliou districts.
On November 29, a seminar-meeting on territorial defense was held in Homiel. It was reported that the training plans of the territorial defense authorities of Homiel for 2025 include trainings both with the heads of organizations and with all “security agencies” located in Homiel.
On November 29, comprehensive exercises with the administration of the point of preliminary collection of equipment were held in Babruisk. The event was held as part of the comprehensive drills of Babruisk city and district department for emergency situations.
Support for Russian aggression against Ukraine
According to the Belarusian Investigative Center, from September 2022 to June 2024, Belarusian companies sold microchips to Russia worth ≈$125 million (of which $400,000 is the resale of components to circumvent sanctions). These are 10,000 microchips produced by companies from the USA, Germany and Finland. These include chips from Intel, which are used in the production of Su-34 and Su-35S aircraft, Korsar drones and Kalibr cruise missiles. At least 6 Belarusian companies ensured the supplies.
In 2022, the Russian military set up a filtration camp in Naroulia (Homiel region). The camp held not only Ukrainian military prisoners, but also civilians (including minors). They were tortured by Russian servicemen. In a joint investigation, Ukrainian and Belarusian journalists managed to establish the exact location of the camp. It was located on the territory of the LLC Prypiat Alliance. The company is part of the structure of the Belarusian Republican Union of Consumer Societies (Belkoopsoyuz).
Internal Troops
On November 23, a tactical training with the Chest’ special forces detachment took place at the 2nd Militia Brigade (military unit 3310). During the training, the soldiers of the detachment improved their skills in firearms and sapper-engineering training.
On November 28, it was reported that servicemen of the Grom special forces detachment of the 5th Militia Brigade (military unit 6713) participated in a “military-patriotic event” in an educational institution in Khoiniki (Homiel region).
On November 29, graduation ceremony of students of junior officers training courses took place at the Internal Troops Faculty of the Military Academy. A total of 30 servicemen underwent the training, which lasted for 3 months. According to the results of the final certification, they were awarded the first officer rank of “junior lieutenant”.
