Review of military events in Belarus on October 30-November 5
The main military events on October 30-November 5
The visit of the Belarusian military delegation to China continued. During the visit, Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin spoke at the 10th Xiangshan Security Forum and also met with representatives of the Iranian army.
On November 1-3, 2023, an inspection of the state system for responding to acts of terrorism was conducted. Counter-terrorism drills were conducted as part of the inspection. Other combat training activities included battalion tactical drills in the 38th Air Assault Brigade.
At the meeting with Lukashenko, it was decided not to create the military prosecutor’s office, which was liquidated in 2014.
The ninth special purpose detachment, Tornado, has been established in the Internal Troops.
International cooperation
The visit of the Belarusian military delegation to China continued. Khrenin also took part in the 10th Xiangshan Security Forum. In his speech, he repeated a standard set of anti-Western narratives of Russian and Belarusian propaganda. A bilateral meeting of Khrenin with Yahya Rahim Safavi, the Chief Advisor to the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Army (for military issues), was held at the forum. The parties discussed the issues of bilateral military cooperation. The Belarusian delegation also visited one of the military units of the Chinese army.
On November 1, a delegation of the Zimbabwean Armed Forces headed by Chief of Staff Jasper Marangwanda visited the Military Academy of Belarus. During the visit, the guests got acquainted with the structure, tasks, and the system of military personnel training at the academy.
On November 2, a meeting dedicated to the development of Belarusian-Zimbabwean military contacts was held under the leadership of the Head of the Department of International Military Cooperation – Assistant Minister of Defense for International Military Cooperation.
Combat training
On October 31, the combat readiness inspection of the reconnaissance battalion of the 11th Mechanized Brigade was conducted. As part of the inspection, servicemen completed firearms training tests.
On October 31, training in firing BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles from closed firing positions was held in the Western Operational Command. The participants studied theoretical issues and practiced firing at the training ground. Similar trainings will be held for deputy battalion commanders and company commanders.
On October 31, a military council was held at the headquarters of the Northwestern Operational Command to summarize the results of training for the 2022/2023 academic year.
On November 1 – 3, 2023, the State Secretariat of the Security Council led an inspection of the state system for responding to acts of terrorism. As part of the inspection, counter-terrorism drills were conducted.
On November 2, a military council of the Western Operational Command was held. It summarized the results of troops training in the 2022/2023 academic year.
On November 2, training on the organization of troop service was held at the 7th Engineer Regiment. During the training, countering unmanned aerial vehicles, search and detention of their operators were practiced in cooperation with representatives of electronic warfare units.
Battalion tactical drills were held at the Brestski training ground with units of the 38th Air Assault Brigade. Servicemen performed tasks to search for and block conditional enemy units and repair equipment. They practiced firing tasks in combat formations with extensive use of Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and artillery.
Rearmament. Activity of the military-industrial complex
Another stage of testing of the short-range reconnaissance radar station developed by ALEVKURP JSC was passed. During the tests, the capabilities of the full-scale model of the radar to detect, follow and recognize various targets (vehicles, personnel, unmanned aerial vehicles) were tested in practice. The Klyon short-range reconnaissance radar is designed to detect, measure coordinates, track and recognize moving targets (ground and low-altitude air targets) in conditions of limited optical visibility.
Wagner private military company
On October 31, one of the planes linked to PMC Wagner arrived at Homiel airport from St. Petersburg. The plane stayed at the airport for 6 hours and 50 minutes. The purpose of the plane’s arrival is unknown.
Internal Troops
A new special purpose detachment, Tornado, is being formed at the 2nd Special Militia Brigade (military unit 3310). The detachment will be the ninth special purpose detachment established in the Internal Troops in 2022-2023.
Amendments to legislation
On November 1, the so-called House of Representatives adopted the draft law “On amending laws on ensuring national security” in the first reading. The document provides for tougher liability for those who evade military duty. The bill also provides for a number of other mobilization measures. In general, the measures taken demonstrate the continuing militarization of Belarus.
On November 2, Lukashenko held a meeting on the reestablishment of the Military Prosecutor’s Office, which was liquidated in 2014. As a result of the meeting, it was decided not to establish the Military Prosecutor’s Office for now. The Prosecutor General’s Office was instructed to lay the groundwork for the Military Prosecutor’s Office so that it could be quickly established if necessary.
On November 3, the Council of Ministers’ Decree No. 750 of November 1, 2023, “On the procedure for the formation and provision of the national home guard” was published. The document regulates the procedure for forming (disbanding) the national home guard, manning and keeping records of volunteers, enlisting volunteers into the national home guard, ensuring their activities, and other issues.
Military commissariats
On October 31, military commissariats of Minsk region sent 29 reservists to participate in a military training session at the 25th Arsenal of missile and artillery armament (1, 2, 3). During the training session, the reservists will study and maintain the equipment of the reserve.
Other
On November 1, a ceremony of presentation of the battle flag of the military unit was held at the 56th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment. We recall that in March 2023, it became known about the formation of the 56th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (military unit 10198) in Luninets. We note that previously the 56th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade was stationed in Slutsk. At the end of 2014, the brigade was disbanded. And the 56th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment was re-established on its basis.
On November 2, the head of the Department of International Military Cooperation of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus stated that a Polish light-engine aircraft repeatedly crossed the border of Belarus by up to 200 meters during patrolling. According to the official, Poland has committed 5 such violations since the beginning of September. Poland’s Charge d’Affaires in Belarus Marcin Wojciechowski was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus because of the incident.
On November 5, it became known that Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valeryi Zaluzhny posthumously awarded the Cross of Valour to Belarusian war volunteer Dzmitry “Hans” Rubasheuski, who was killed in April 2022 during the battles in Luhansk region.