Units of the Special Operations Forces of Belarus guard Russian military in the area bordering Ukraine

Guard not only the border with Ukraine

On August 8, the command of the Special Operations Forces of Belarus published a tender “Underwear and workwear laundry services for 2023,” which states that from August to December 2023, the winner is obliged to launder the underwear and workwear of soldiers of the Special Operations Forces weekly. The documents also specify the places of service delivery — Ziabrauka (Homiel district) and Vialiki Bokau (Mazyr district), where the airfields of the same name are located.

We recall that the Russian military, more precisely, the Air Defense Forces, have been stationed at the airfields in Vialiki Bokau and Ziabrauka since 2022. And the Special Operations Forces require laundry services exactly in these settlements.

Since March 2022, units of the Belarusian Armed Forces have been strengthening the protection of the border with Ukraine. According to our data, units of the 103rd Airborne Brigade of the Belarusian Armed Forces are stationed in the area of Ziabrauka airfield, and vehicles of the Special Operations Forces are regularly spotted in the vicinity of Mazyr.

However, both Bokau and Ziabrauka are at a sufficient distance from the border: the airfield in Vialiki Bokau is 38 km away, Ziabrauka is at least 23 km away. In addition, earlier, Flagshtok media drew attention to the fact that the Belarusian Ministry of Defense is trying to pass off the protection of the perimeter of Ziabrauka airfield as protection of the border with Ukraine.

Thus, we can state that units of the Belarusian Armed Forces are engaged not only in protecting the border with Ukraine, but also in providing security of Russian military facilities located at the airfields in Vialiki Bokau and Ziabrauka. We also note that these military facilities officially don’t have any legal status (for example, a military base of the Russian Armed Forces).