Combat training, activities of the Internal Troops and territorial defense.
During the week, at least two Russian drones flew into Belarus: a Shahed-136/131 and a reconnaissance Orlan drone. The forces of the 61st Fighter Air Base were engaged to intercept the Shahed-136/131.
Units of the Belarusian Armed Forces continue to be stationed in Homiel region. Special forces units of the Internal Troops and militia were redeployed to the border area with Ukraine. On September 11, a flight of Su-25 attack aircraft returned to the permanent deployment airfield from Babruisk airfield.
In the near future, artillery units of the Belarusian Armed Forces will receive a batch of BM-21 Grad MLRS modernized to the level of BM-21B BelGrad-2. It was reported that 122-mm rocket projectiles with a high-precision guidance unit developed by the Belarusian military-industrial complex were launched.
A new Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment is being formed in Hrodna. In 2024, UAV units were established in each mechanized and reconnaissance battalion and artillery divizions of the Western Operational Command.
The draft of reserve officers for military service continues. Over 70 people were sent to the troops during the week. According to the media, a total of 998 reserve officers are to be drafted in 2024.
Escalation on the border with Ukraine
On September 9, in an interview to the National Defense magazine, State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aliaksandr Valfovich commented on the situation on the Belarus-Ukraine border. According to the official, “in order to adequately respond to the emerging situation, by [Lukashenka’s] order” additional units of the Belarusian Armed Forces, Internal Troops, and others were deployed on the border with Ukraine. They have occupied the staging areas, where they are “taking measures to improve the defensive lines in order to exclude the possibility of a sudden attack, including with the use of heavy military equipment,” as much as possible. According to Valfovich, special attention is being paid to improving the effectiveness of countering UAVs and counter-sabotage actions.
On September 10, it was reported that units of the 74th Separate Signal Regiment of the Western Operational Command “continue to perform tasks to provide all types of communications for the group of troops” operating on the border with Ukraine.
On September 10, the press service of the Internal Troops showed the work of the Buran special forces detachment (military unit 5525) “on the southern border of our country.” And on September 12 – the work of the Tornado special forces detachment (military unit 3310) “to protect the southern border of Belarus.” It was also reported about the presence of the Vitsiaz special forces detachment in Khoiniki (Homiel region).
On September 11, four Su-25 attack aircraft of the 116th Assault Air Base of the Belarusian Air Force (military unit 19764) flew from Babruisk airfield to Lida permanent deployment airfield. The aircraft were in Babruisk for exactly one month, since August 10. The very fact of the withdrawal of aviation to the permanent deployment point once again confirms that there is no military threat to Belarus from Ukraine. And the redeployment of troops to Homiel region is nothing more than an informational action of the Lukashenka regime.
On September 11, Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Kubrakou said that the ministry had analyzed the actions of the Ukrainian forces in Kursk region. And due to the tense situation, special units of special forces detachments of militia (OMON) and Internal Troops were deployed in the border area with Ukraine. The main goal is to prevent the enemy from entering the settlements on the territory of Belarus. According to the official, operational interaction was organized with commanders of the Belarusian Armed Forces, border service bodies and local authorities.
International cooperation
On September 9, the Department of International Military Cooperation held a meeting with Istvan Bognar, Air Force Attaché at the Hungarian Embassy in Belarus, on the occasion of the completion of his accreditation procedure with the Ministry of Defense. During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the state of the military and political situation in the European region and bilateral military relations between the countries.
On September 9, State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aliaksandr Valfovich said, “As another element aimed at strengthening the security of the Union State, we are considering the preparation of the Treaty on Security Guarantees [between Belarus and Russia].” According to the official, the final draft document is planned to be presented in the near future.
On September 11, it was reported that military delegations from Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea paid a working visit to Minsk. As part of the visit, a briefing was organized for the visiting delegations, which provided information about the combat training system of the Belarusian Armed Forces and the training of military personnel.
Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin took part in the 11th Xiangshan Security Forum, which was held on September 12-14 in Beijing. On September 12, Viktar Khrenin met with the head of China’s military department, Dong Jun. During the meeting, they discussed the status and prospects of bilateral military cooperation, as well as topical issues on the regional and international agenda.
Khrenin said, “An important area of cooperation is interaction in the field of military training. The regular contract signed in June [2024] for the training of Chinese servicemen at the Military Academy of Belarus was a manifestation of trust and appreciation of the military education system. […] In addition, we have started joint cooperation in peacekeeping activities.” In turn, the head of the Chinese military agency confirmed the intention to accelerate the implementation of the already approved projects at the working level, as well as to bring the military cooperation between the countries to a higher level.
Combat training
On September 9, State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aliaksandr Valfovich said that in 2025, another drills of the so-called “regional group of troops” of Belarus and Russia would be held on the territory of Belarus.
On September 9, a review of readiness for upcoming combat training exercises was held at the 40th Separate Mechanized Battalion of the 11th Mechanized Brigade.
Scheduled control exercises in tactical and specialty training with servicemen of the 56th Separate Signal Regiment were completed. The exercises were conducted under the supervision of the Head of Communications and Radio Engineering Support – the Head of the Department of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces General Staff.
The “Interaction-2024” command-staff drills with the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces, the “Search-2024” special drills and the “Echelon-2024” special drills continued at the Edelweiss training center (Kyrgyzstan). During the drills, issues related to the preparation of a joint operation by the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces to resolve an armed conflict are being worked out. At the final stage of the “Interaction-2024” drills, units of the Belarusian Armed Forces, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan blocked a village where the conditional enemy had established control over part of the territory. Special units of the MIA and Internal Troops of Belarus, in cooperation with Irbis units (Kyrgyzstan), freed hostages and destroyed militants.
At the “Echelon-2024” drills, logistical support units practiced their tasks in mountainous terrain. Particular attention was paid to the actions of the units during the regrouping of the CSTO rapid reaction forces contingents in the areas where the joint operation was being conducted. On September 11, it was reported that the CSTO drills had been completed. The drills involved more than 1500 servicemen from Belarus, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, as well as up to 300 pieces of military equipment.
At a training ground in Russia, units of the Belarusian Armed Forces are completing preparations for missile attack control exercises. The event involves, among others, Polonez-M MLRS. The missile launchers will perform combat launches at a range of 300 kilometers.
One of the units of the 19th Mechanized Brigade, staffed with conscripts, held battalion tactical drills. The purpose of the drills was to improve the soldiers’ practical skills in preparing for and performing tasks during defense and defensive combat. On September 14 and 15, the brigade’s units that participated in the drills returned to their permanent deployment point. During the drills, the servicemen drafted from the reserve not only gained experience, but also restored the skills they had previously acquired during their military service.
On August 11, one of the battalion tactical groups of the 6th Mechanized Brigade, staffed with conscripts, began marching from the Hozhski training ground to the permanent deployment point.
The Belarusian Armed Forces under the leadership of the head of the Communications Department of the General Staff are conducting operational and specialty drills of the communications troops. The purpose of the drills is to maintain the level of combat readiness and the ability of the communications troops to provide effective command and control of the troops. During the drills, issues related to the combat use of communications units in modified organizational and staff structures are being worked out. The drills are the final combat training event for the communications troops in the academic year.
The idea of the drills was based on the principle of integrated use of different types of communications (both base and field), as well as the use of technological and special purpose networks of different organizations. The drills are being conducted in two phases. It was reported that the second phase would be used to practice the relocation of control point communications nodes to new areas.
The drills involve more than 150 communications nodes, about 500 pieces of equipment and 1500 servicemen – almost the entire personnel of the communications forces. It was reported that units from the 60th and 74th Separate Signal Regiments, the 377th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, the 6th Mechanized Brigade and the 36th Road-Bridge Brigade took part in the drills.
Comprehensive tactical drills were completed with units of the 358th Separate Mechanized Battalion of the 120th Mechanized Brigade at the 227th Barysauski combined arms training ground. The servicemen practiced the issues of blocking, ambush and fire defeat of the conditional enemy during combat operations.
On September 11, exercises were held on artillery fire control and missile strike control. Officers from the Missile and Artillery Troops Department of the Western Operational Command, the commander of the 111th Artillery Brigade, and artillery chiefs of mechanized brigades participated in the training. Multirotor UAVs and tablets with special software allowing for online information exchange were used during the training.
On September 12, a training on protecting and repelling an attack on a military town was held in the 11th Mechanized Brigade. The 74th Signal Regiment and the 108th Material Support Regiment held a similar training (with practice in countering unauthorized UAV flights).
Control tactical and specialty exercises are conducted with the Radio Interference Company of the 48th Separate Special Battalion for Electronic Warfare. During the exercises, the following are being practiced: marching to position areas, engineering equipment and camouflage of positions, and organization of radio reconnaissance and radio suppression.
Command-staff drills with the personnel of the 120th Mechanized Brigade were held at the 227th Barysauski training ground under the direction of the commander of the Northwestern Operational Command. As part of the drills, an episode of defensive combat was staged. The servicemen practiced ambush operations, destruction of the conditional enemy penetrated into the defense of troops and conducting a counterattack. Delegations from Zimbabwe, Iran and Equatorial Guinea watched the drills. According to Aliaksandr Bas, commander of the Northwestern Operational Command, “Throughout all phases of the drills, we focused on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. Both to conduct reconnaissance and to destroy [targets].”
Air Force exercises were held with the aviation detachment ( UAVs) of the 6th Mechanized Brigade. During the exercises, UAV operators improved tactical techniques and methods of performing assigned tasks in a changing air and ground environment.
On September 12, the mortar battery of the 350th Artillery Group was reviewed as part of the combat readiness exercises.
One of the mechanized battalions of the 11th Mechanized Brigade held engineering exercises. The servicemen practiced fortification of the position, namely the digging of single trenches for soldiers and military equipment (with communication routes between them, as well as observation posts). They also practiced camouflage and sheltering for the personnel.
On September 13, a one-day training session with the mine clearance team was held with the officers of the 30th Railway Brigade. During the training session, the issues of mine-explosive barriers and the correct operation and installation of mines were discussed.
Tactics and tactical medicine exercises were conducted with servicemen of the 202nd Separate Mechanized Battalion of the 6th Mechanized Brigade. During the training, the servicemen practiced the skills learned under the guidance of representatives of Group “B” (former PMC Wagner).
Military commissariats and territorial defense
Military training sessions
On September 10, military commissariats of Minsk region sent about 50 reservists to a military training session.
On September 12, conscripts drafted to a military training session took the military oath at the 320th training school for specialists of Engineering Troops and Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Protection, Air Force and Air Defense Forces. A total of at least 20 reservists were drafted.
On September 13, another training session with conscripts was completed in the 6th Mechanized Brigade. A total of about 285 reservists were drafted.
Another training session is being held in the 557th Engineering Brigade. About 40 reservists were drafted.
Conscription for compulsory military service
During the week, servicemen of the 11th Mechanized Brigade held meetings in the military commissariats of Hrodna region, Vaukavysk and Masty districts (Hrodna region), Homiel, Svetlahorsk, Aktsiabrski, Kalinkavichy, Mazyr, Yelsk and Naroulya districts (Homiel region), Ivatsevichy and Ivanava districts, Pinsk and Pinsk district (Brest region), Babruisk, Hlusk and Kirau districts (Mahiliou region), the 72nd training center (Minsk region). At the meetings, representatives of the brigade told about the possibility of military service under contract.
The military commissariat of Astraviets district is planning to draft about 40 people for compulsory service during the fall 2024 conscription.
On September 12, deputy chairman of Brest Regional Executive Committee Vadzim Krauchuk said that the plan of spring 2024 conscription of citizens for compulsory military service in Brest region was 100% fulfilled. He said, “Since the spring of 2020, the activities on conscription of citizens for compulsory military service, service in the reserve were carried out under the conditions of sufficient number of conscript resources fit for military service in terms of health. This result was achieved due to timely measures taken.”
On September 12, the military commissariat of Barysau and Krupki districts held an open mobile trial on the criminal case of evasion from conscription for compulsory military service (part 1 of Article 435 of the Criminal Code). The court found the conscript guilty and sentenced him to 1 month of arrest.
On September 12, a representative of the military commissariat of Slutsk and Staradarozhski districts spoke at all-school parents’ meetings in secondary schools No.5 and No.12 in Slutsk. At the meeting, the parents of the graduates were told about enrollment in military schools and service under contract.
Conscription of reserve officers
According to media reports, 998 reserve officers are planned to be drafted in 2024.
On September 10, the military commissariat of Baranavichy, Baranavichy and Liakhavichy districts sent reserve officers to the troops. A total of 12 people were drafted. Conscription is carried out on the basis of the decree No.179 of April 29, 2024.
On September 11, the military commissariat of Homiel city sent reserve officers drafted for military service to the troops. A total of 9 people were drafted.
In 2024, the military commissariat of Vileika district will draft 5 reserve officers for military service. On September 13, the first officer was drafted to the 19th Mechanized Brigade.
On September 13, the military commissariat of Partyzanski district of Minsk drafted 1 reserve officer.
On September 13, it was reported that at least 40 reserve officers had arrived to serve in the 11th Mechanized Brigade.
On September 13, it was reported that 5 reserve officers arrived to serve at the 36th Road and Bridge Brigade.
On September 13, the military commissariat of Kobryn and Zhabinka districts drafted 2 reserve officers for military service.
Territorial Defense
On September 9, 67 conscripts of the territorial troops of Kamianets district were drafted to a training session. A total of 105 reservists were drafted as part of the training session.
On September 10, an inspection of territorial defense issues was completed in Miadziel district. During the inspection, a checkpoint was deployed and equipped.
From September 10 to October 3, a training session will be held with conscripts of the territorial troops of Vitsiebsk and Orsha districts of Vitsiebsk region. The purpose of the training session is to improve the skills of executive committee officials in forming military units of the territorial troops, and of conscripts of the territorial troops in performing the assigned tasks. The training session will end with command-staff drills, which will be held on September 27-30. About 250 conscripts were drafted from the reserve to the training session.
On September 13, a training session with conscripts of the territorial troops was completed in Slutsk district. The training ended with tactical drills with the 120th Mechanized Brigade. An instructor with the call sign “Vadzi”, who had “experience of two missions to war zones”, shared his knowledge with the conscripts.
As part of combat coordination with the separate rifle battalion of the territorial troops of Hrodna district, exercises with reconnaissance and engineer-sapper platoons were held at the Hozhski training ground. The peculiarity of the training is that for the first time inspectors of the State Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora took part in it.
National home guard
On September 12, one of the village councils of Slutsk district held exercises with potential volunteers of the national home guard detachment.
On September 13, exercises were held in Valozhyn district with chairmen of village executive committees, national home guard detachments commanders and their deputies. During the exercises, the procedure of formation of national home guard detachments, as well as the use of weapons were discussed. Representatives of the central district hospital conducted medical training exercises.
Internal Troops
A training session with grenade launchers and their assistants was held in the 1st Militia Brigade (military unit 5448). The training focused on practical work with the RPG-7 hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher.
A training was held at the Valoushchyna training center with the 4th year cadets of the Internal Troops Faculty of the Military Academy under the guidance of former PMC Wagner mercenaries. The servicemen improved their skills in tactical-specialty, artillery, medical and topographical training, as well as in UAV control. They practiced the use of small groups for offensive operations (storming a building, clearing trenches), search and destruction of sabotage and reconnaissance groups, and building defenses.
Field drills of the 1st Patrol Battalion of the 1st Militia Brigade (military unit 5448) took place in Minsk district. On the first day, the servicemen practiced blocking the area and search for a sabotage and reconnaissance group, as well as marching and orienteering on the terrain. After that, the personnel set up a field camp. During the second day, the servicemen improved their skills in firearms, tactical and military medical training.
Servicemen of the Special Rapid Response Detachment and members of the Almaz unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs took a training course in the specialty of diver-explosive specialist. The training took place on the basis of the 31st Separate Naval Training Center of the Rosgvardiya (military unit 7628, Severobaikalsk, Russia). During the training, the servicemen acquired theoretical and practical skills in the use of explosives underwater, mines and demining. They got acquainted with the latest models of underwater equipment and navigation equipment of small vessels. They practiced getting out of the torpedo apparatus of a submarine and moving with the help of tugboats. The training took place both in the cold waters of Lake Baikal and at special training grounds.
On September 10-11, “Stolin-2024” exercises were held in Stolin (Brest region) under the leadership of Interior Minister Ivan Kubrakou. The topic of the training was the suppression of illegal armed groups. The training was attended by the chairmen of Brest and Homiel district executive committees, commanders of Internal Troops and Special Operations Forces, heads of regional, city and district departments of internal affairs, heads of district executive committees of border regions, etc. The training was organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The servicemen participating in the drills were divided into two groups: the city defense forces and a “conditional” armed formation attempting to enter a settlement. During the practical part of the exercise, they practiced combat tactics in urban conditions, during which an attempt to seize the building of the local internal affairs department was suppressed. Reconnaissance was conducted using FPV drones under cover of snipers and armored vehicles. The search operations ended with the detection of “militants” and their detention with the help of service dogs. An attempt by “saboteurs” to cross a water obstacle by boat was suppressed with the use of UAVs and other weapons. The release of hostages was also practiced.
Units of the “special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs” participated in the training. Among them: OMON, Almaz unit, Special Rapid Response Detachment, Rys’ separate special forces detachment (military unit 5529), Taifun special forces detachment, Shtorm, etc. The Ukrainian Kozak-5 (Kozak-7) armored vehicle was used during the drills. The vehicle was probably captured by PMC Wagner mercenaries and provided to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for drills. This is not the first time that Ukrainian trophy equipment has been used in combat training exercises.
On September 14, combat training exercises were held at the Valoushchyna training center with the combat reserve of the Chest’ Association of Veterans of Special Forces Detachment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Chest’ special forces detachment). The soldiers of the UAV control group continued training on controlling drones in various flight modes, and also began to master UAVs designed for dynamic flights over long distances.
The Buran special forces detachment held field drills. The servicemen practiced firing various types of weapons in the dark and daylight. Special attention was paid to working with the RPG-7B grenade launcher and handling the large-caliber machine gun mounted on the combat vehicle.
Exercises were held in the Grom special forces detachment. The servicemen trained with small arms and grenade launchers. The servicemen received firefighting skills while riding an ATV and practiced various maneuvers on a Volat V1 armored vehicle.
Flights of Russian drones into Belarus
On September 13, it was reported that a Russian reconnaissance UAV of Orlan type flew into Belarus. The Belarusian Air Force did not intercept it.
On the night of September 14, 1 Russian drone of the Shahed-136/131 type flew from Ukraine into the airspace of Belarus. Later, the drone returned to Ukraine. A fighter of the Belarusian Air Force was used to intercept it.
Rearmament. Activities of the military-industrial complex
On September 12, it was reported that the 2566th Radio-Electronic Weapons Repair Plant had completed the upgrade of a batch of BM-21 Grad MLRS to BM-21B BelGrad-2. The equipment has passed acceptance tests and is ready to be transferred to the troops. It has not yet been reported which unit of the Belarusian Armed Forces will be the first to receive the modernized Grad systems. It is known that BM-21 Grad MLRS are in service with at least seven brigades of the Ground Forces and Special Operations Forces.
On September 13, the State Authority for Military Industry reported that an enterprise of the Belarusian military-industrial complex together with representatives of the Belarusian Armed Forces conducted experimental launches of 122-mm rockets for BM-21 Grad MLRS equipped with a high-precision guidance unit. The range of the projectiles is up to 20 kilometers. In the future, the high-precision guidance unit can be installed on rockets with a range of up to 40 km. It was noted that the modernization of standard Grad MLRS defeat devices to the high-precision level allows to significantly reduce the consumption of ammunition to achieve the set goals.
On September 13, a round table on “Automatic Independent Surveillance in the interests of the Belarusian Armed Forces” was held on the basis of OJSC “AGAT Control Systems”. The round table was attended by leading specialists of the company, representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus and “Firma NITA” LLC (Russia). During the event, the issues of application of various methods of identification and notification of the location of air objects of state and civil aviation, realization of remote notification of UAVs were discussed. The participants of the round table expressed a common position on the topics under consideration and decided to hold similar events on a scheduled basis.
Formation of new units
On September 11, it became known that a new unit is being formed within the Western Operational Command – an Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (military unit 96871). It is known that the regiment will be stationed in Hrodna. Infrastructure is being prepared for this purpose. The establishment of the unit may be connected with the formation of the Southern Operational Command.
In 2024, UAV units were established in each mechanized and reconnaissance battalion and artillery divizion of the Western Operational Command, which are equipped with modern reconnaissance and attack drones. Also production of devices for dropping different types of ammunition from multi-rotor UAVs has been organized in mechanized brigades using a 3D printer.
PMC Wagner
On September 13-14, the Russian AbakanAir cargo airline made another flight from Belarus (Orsha airfield) to one of the countries of deployment of PMC Wagner mercenaries in Africa – the Central African Republic. Since October 2023, a total of 5 flights of AbakanAir and Rada Airlines from Belarus to Mali and the Central African Republic, where the activities of PMC Wagner continue, were recorded.
