Review of military events in Belarus on October 14-20
Combat training, activities of the Internal Troops and territorial defense.
During the week, at least 18 Russian drones of the Shahed-136/131 type flew into Belarus. Most of them returned to Ukraine. On October 20, the air defense forces of the Belarusian Armed Forces shot down one drone over Yelsk district (Homiel region).
During the week, exercises with reservists who had previously served in special units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Internal Troops were held in Mahiliou, Hrodna, Brest and Vitsebsk. It was reported that “volunteer” detachments with reservists were formed in each region of Belarus, and regular drills were held with them.
On October 19, a group of servicemen of the Belarusian Armed Forces went to Russia for training at one of the “combat training centers.” After the training, the best servicemen will be appointed as instructors in their units.
Training of specialists for the operation of Pantsir-S1/SM and Tor-M2K systems is being conducted in the 1st Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of the Belarusian Armed Forces. The issue of the timing of their transfer to the Belarusian Armed Forces remains open, as the deliveries depend directly on the capabilities of the Russian military-industrial complex.
Escalation on the border with Ukraine
On October 15, servicemen of the Shtorm special forces detachment (military unit 5526) visited educational institutions in Stolin (Brest region). It was also reported about meetings of the Granit (military unit 5448), Grom (military unit 6713), Vitsiaz (military unit 5524) and Tornado (military unit 3310) special forces detachments with students in Yelsk, Kazeluzhzha (Khoiniki district), Brahin and Lelchytsy, respectively. And the Buran special forces detachment (military unit 5525) took part in the celebration of City Day in Loyeu.
On 19 October, as part of the “program of military-patriotic and career-oriented events,” servicemen of the 38th Air Assault Brigade organized a meeting with students in Dobrush (Homiel region).
On October 20, the press service of the Internal Troops reported on the performance of tasks to “protect the southern borders of the Republic of Belarus” by the Vitsiaz special forces detachment (military unit 5524). It was noted that in addition to performing combat tasks, the servicemen together with “experienced instructors” were improving their skills to search for and detain a conditional criminal in the border area.
International cooperation
On October 14-17, a delegation of the financial department of the Main Logistics Directorate of the Chinese Central Military Council visited Minsk. During the visit, the delegation met with the head of the main financial and economic department of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus. During the negotiations, the delegation exchanged views on the financial support of the armed forces of Belarus and China, and discussed new areas of cooperation and prospects for their development.
On October 17, a meeting between Russia and Belarus on security issues was held in Moscow under the chairmanship of Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergey Shoigu and State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aliaksandr Valfovich. During the meeting, the parties discussed the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation between the countries in the field of security, issues of further deepening industrial cooperation, implementation of joint programs and investment projects.
Combat training
Combat readiness inspection of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces
On October 15, a send-off for conscripts drafted from the reserve as part of the combat readiness inspection took place at the 1072nd Central Command Post of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces (military unit 07147). The deputy commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces said, “The inspection [of the 1072nd command post] on combat mobilization readiness continues. During [the inspection], conscripts were drafted, combat coordination activities were conducted, and equipment and weapons were prepared for combat use. There was work in new position areas, countering UAVs, improving engineering equipment and positions. The inspection ended with tactical and specialty drills led by the commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces.”
Other combat training events
her combat training events
Battalion tactical drills were held with the 7th Separate Tank Battalion of the 11th Mechanized Brigade at the Hozhski training ground, taking into account the experience (of the war in Ukraine). According to the idea of the drills, the battalion was tasked with destroying an illegal armed formation. The unit was assigned a motorized rifle company and mortar crews. UAVs were used during the drills. Special attention was paid to covert troop movements and camouflage.
The pontoon bridge battalion of the 557th Engineering Brigade also took part in the drills. The unit equipped a ferry crossing and used aerosol camouflage to protect it. On October 19, it was reported that the 7th Separate Tank Battalion was returning to its permanent deployment point.
A comprehensive inspection of the Northwestern Operational Command is be held on October 16-25 under the guidance of Pavel Muraveika, the Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces. The purpose of the inspection is to determine the level of officers’ training and the ability of the operational command’s departments (services) to fulfill assigned tasks. According to Commander of the troops of the operational command Aliaksandr Bas, during the inspection: “Officers of departments and services will pass control exercises in subjects of operational (combat) training. Control tests will be held in the main areas of the Armed Forces’ activity.”
Methodological training with UAV operators and a conference on UAV flight safety were held at the 927th Training Center for the Training and Use of UAVs. The event was attended by representatives of the Belarusian Armed Forces and UAV manufacturers. The servicemen got acquainted with the peculiarities of operating the Supercam S350 UAV under interference conditions, taking into account the experience of using this type of UAV during the (war in Ukraine), and discussed the current regulatory legal acts on the use of UAVs.
Tactical training exercises were held in the 120th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade. The purpose of the exercises was to improve the combat readiness of the personnel, to practice inter-unit interaction and to improve the skills of operating the Buk SAM system under various conditions. During the training, the servicemen deployed equipment. They practiced detection and tracking of air targets in various conditions.
On October 16, it was reported that exercises on professional and position training were held in the 8th Radio-Technical Brigade with commanders of units (military units). During the exercises, the training focused on bringing units to the highest levels of combat readiness, as well as the organization of guarding assigned areas.
On October 17, a commission of the Western Operational Command conducted a sudden comprehensive inspection in the 147th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment. No other details about the inspection were reported.
On October 19, a group of Belarusian servicemen went to Russia for training at one of the “combat training centers”. According to the head of the main department of combat training of the Belarusian Armed Forces, representatives of different branches and types of troops of the Belarusian Armed Forces went for training “to adopt advanced methods of training of troops for further introduction of them into the practice of training of their military units. […] The best of them will become regular instructors in our formations and military units after the training.” Recall that the first group of instructors of the Belarusian Armed Forces was trained in Russia in January 2024.
It was also reported that the 4th Separate Tank Battalion of the 19th Mechanized Brigade had recently completed training in Russia. It was noted that all the advanced technologies used in the Russian Armed Forces were transferred to the Belarusian servicemen. On October 19, the battalion arrived in Belarus.
Military commissariats and territorial defense
Military commissariats
On October 14, the military commissariat of Vitsiebsk city, Vitsiebsk and Liozna districts held an open mobile trial to consider a criminal case on evasion of conscription (p.1 of Art.435 of the Criminal Code). The court found the conscript guilty and imposed a fine of 6000 BYN ($1812).
On October 18, an open mobile trial was held in Smaliavichy to consider a criminal case on evasion of conscription (p.1 of Art.435 of the Criminal Code). The court found the conscript guilty and sentenced him to 2 years of restricted freedom without sending him to an open-type correctional institution.
Military training sessions
On October 15, a send-off of conscripts drafted from the reserve as part of combat readiness inspection took place at the 1072nd Central Command Post of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces (military unit 07147). A total of about 150 reservists were drafted.
On October 16, it was reported that an open mobile trial was held in the military commissariat of Petrykau district, where a criminal case on evasion of a citizen from appearing for a military training session (p.1 of Art.436 of the Criminal Code) was considered. The court found the conscript guilty and sentenced him to 120 hours of community service.
On October 18, 1 reserve officer arrived at the military commissariat of Ivanava district after military commissariat training sessions at the Military Academy.
Another military training session is being held at the 3rd training school for tank and artillery units. About 40 reservists were drafted.
On October 17, it was reported that another military training session was completed in the 7th Engineering Regiment. About 15 reservists were drafted. On October 25, another military training session will be completed in the regiment. 27 reservists were drafted.
On October 18, another military training session was completed at the 815th Technical Support Center. 10 reservists were drafted.
On October 18, another military training session was completed in the 6th Mechanized Brigade. 20 reservists were drafted.
Conscription for compulsory military service
During the fall 2024 conscription, about 10,000 conscripts are planned to be sent for compulsory military service.
In the fall 2024 conscription, it’s planned to draft 50 people from Lahoisk district, 45 people from Lyakhavichy district, 25 people from Dobrush district, 30 people from Braslau district, 30 people from Lepel district, and 30 people from Chashniki district for compulsory military service.
Conscription of reserve officers
On October 17, the military commissariat of Biaroza district drafted 1 reserve officer for military service in the 61st Fighter Air Base.
National home guard
On October 17, representatives of the district executive committee, internal affairs department and military commissariat held exercises for commanders of national home guard detachments and their deputies on the basis of the Sharashova village executive committee (Pruzhany district).
Internal Troops
On October 14-15, two-day comprehensive exercises were held in Mahiliou on the basis of the 5th Special Forces Brigade (military unit 6713) with conscripts who had previously served in the militia special forces detachment (OMON) and special units of Internal Troops. It was reported that the event was held “as part of the implementation of [Lukashenka’s] order to bring the army and the power block as a whole into perfect condition.” As part of the comprehensive exercises, the participants improved their skills in firearms, tactical, military engineering and medical training, practiced coordination of actions during the suppression of mass riots, work with UAVs, coordination of actions during the storming of enemy positions, etc.
Similar exercises were held on October 15-16 in Vitsiebsk region (on the basis of the OMON in Vitsiebsk and the 9th Militia Battalion, military unit 5530 – in Polatsk), on October 17-18 in Brest region (on the basis of the 6th Militia Battalion, military unit 5526) and in Hrodna region (on the basis of the 4th Militia Battalion, military unit 5522).
According to Deputy Commander of the Internal Troops Aliaksandr Bykau, by Lukashenka’s order, detachments of “volunteers” (“volunteer formations”) were formed in each region of Belarus. And by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs, drills were organized with the detachments, which were conducted by instructors from the OMON, Internal Troops, as well as instructors “with real combat experience” (former mercenaries of PMC Wagner).
On October 16, Commander of the Internal Troops Mikalai Karpiankou said, “The special forces component is being seriously developed in the [Internal] Troops.” While previously it was represented only by the 3rd Special Forces Brigade (military unit 3214) and the Special Rapid Reaction Detachment, the result of three years of work (since 2022) is the establishment of 10 more special forces detachments in each region and two volunteer detachments (Chest’ and Smerch). These units account for more than 35% of the total number of the Internal Troops. Karpiankou said, “The era of the formation of operational special forces of the Internal Troops is over, but work in this direction will continue further.”
On October 19, on the territory of the training complex of the 2nd Militia Brigade (military unit 3310), another tactical training was held with the Chest’ special forces detachment. During the training, tactics were practiced to capture and hold enemy engineering barriers using simulated charges, as well as reconnaissance tasks.
Flights of Russian UAVs into Belarus
On October 15, a flight of the Russian Shahed-136/131 UAV into the airspace of Belarus was recorded. There is no information about its further fate. The Belarusian Air Force was not used to intercept the UAV.
In the evening of October 16, at least 7 Russian Shahed-136/131 UAVs were recorded flying from Belarus to Ukraine. According to available information, the UAVs were launched from Bryansk region (Russia), after which they transited through Belarus to Ukraine. The Belarusian Air Force was not used to intercept the UAVs.
In the evening of October 16, two Russian UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type flew into Belarus from Ukraine. Later they returned to Ukraine. The Belarusian Air Force was not used to intercept the UAVs.
On the night of October 17, two Russian UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type flew into Belarus from Ukraine. Later they returned to Ukraine. A fighter of the Belarusian Air Force was used to intercept the UAVs.
On the night of October 17-18, 9 Russian UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type flew into Belarus from Ukraine. Later, 7 drones returned to Ukraine. There is no information about the fate of the remaining 2 UAVs. A fighter of the Belarusian Air Force was used to intercept the UAVs.
At least 4 Russian UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type flew into Belarus from Ukraine during the night and late evening of October 20. Later, one of the drones was shot down by the Air Defense Forces of the Belarusian Armed Forces over Yelsk district. One UAV also returned to Ukraine. There is no information about the fate of the third UAV. A fighter of the Belarusian Air Force was used to intercept the UAV.
Amendments to legislation
Decree of the Council of Ministers No. 753 of October 12, 2024 introduced amendments to the Regulation on the procedure for military and special training sessions. According to the new requirements, conscripts must now receive summonses no later than 7 days before the start of training sessions (previously – 10 days).
Rearmament
Training of specialists for the operation of Pantsir-S1/SM and Tor-M2K systems is being conducted in the 1st Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment. Based on available information, we can state that there are plans to supply all anti-aircraft missile units of the Belarusian Armed Forces armed with S-300/S-400 short-range SAM systems. The purpose is to provide cover against air attack means for S-300/S-400 SAM divizions “during the conduct of maneuvering combat operations.” The question of the timing of the implementation of these plans remains open, as they directly depend on the capabilities of the Russian military-industrial complex.
Other
On October 17, demonstrative tactical and specialty drills of the Ministry of Emergency Situations were held at the training ground of the fire rescue unit of Naftan OJSC in Navapolatsk. It was noted that drills with such a tactical plan were held by the rescuers for the first time based on the study of real threats and situations occurring in Russia.