The aviation group of the Russian Aerospace Forces was withdrawn from Belarus
At 08:15-08:20 (Minsk time) on August 5, a group of ten helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces took off from Machulishchy airfield.
05.08.2023
Data as of 14:00 (GMT+3) 05.08.2023
At 08:15-08:20 (Minsk time) on August 5, a group of ten helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces took off from Machulishchy airfield:
- four Mi-8;
- six Mi-24.
Later, the helicopters were spotted over Mahiliou region flying towards the border with Russia, which they further crossed. According to our information, all ten helicopters landed at Seshcha airfield (Bryansk oblast, Russia).
Also, at around 14:00, a Mi-24 helicopter of the Russian Aerospace Forces took off from Machulishchy airfield. According to our information, this was the last helicopter of the aviation group of the Russian Aerospace Forces that was stationed at Machulishchy airfield. This helicopter also flew to the east and most likely went to Seshcha airfield in Russia.
We note that most of these helicopters were in Belarus since January 8, 2023 (in total, for 209 days).
Also, at around 13:30, nine Su-34 and Su-30SM fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces took off from Baranavichy airfield. The fighters passed through Mahiliou region and crossed the border of Belarus with Russia.
We note that most of them were in Belarus since January 15, 2023 (in total, for 202 days).
Thus:
- Today, the entire aviation group of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which consisted of fighters and helicopters, left Machulishchy and Baranavichy airfields for Russia.
- In total, 11 helicopters and 9 fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces left Belarus.
- We can state that the Russian component of the regional group of troops, which was deployed in October 2022, was almost completely withdrawn from the territory of Belarus.