Military activity on the territory of Belarus on April 15-21
Aviation activity, movements of the troops by rail and roads in Belarus.
During the past week, transfer of equipment of the Belarusian Armed Forces to Minsk to prepare for the military parade, which will take place on July 3, was recorded. It was also reported about the activity of the Belarusian military in Yelsk district.
Helicopters of the Belarusian Air Force continued to fly along the western border of Belarus, while fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces continued to fly at Baranavichy airfield.
Aviation activity
- Aviation activity was recorded at Machulishchy, Lida, Baranavichy, and Luninets airfields, as well as at Brest airport. Flights of aircraft and helicopters of the Belarusian Air Force and Russian Aerospace Forces were recorded.
- On April 16, a helicopter of the Belarusian Air Force was recorded flying in the vicinity of Ros’ (Vaukavysk district). An abandoned military airfield and a radio-technical center of the 2285th Separate Radio-Technical Battalion are located in the vicinity of the settlement.
- On April 16-21, flights of helicopters of the 50th combined air base of the Belarusian Air Force in the area of the western border of Belarus were recorded daily.
- On April 18, flights of fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces were recorded at Baranavichy airfield.
- On April 18, a Tu-134 passenger aircraft of the Belarusian Air Force flew to Moscow.
- On April 21, an Il-76 military transport aircraft of the Belarusian Air Force flew from Machulishchy airfield to Russia. The aircraft brought servicemen of the 7th Separate Tank Battalion of the 11th Mechanized Brigade, who have been training at the 333rd training center of the Russian Armed Forces since March.
Rail activity
- On April 15, a military cargo train with equipment of the 6th Mechanized Brigade of the Belarusian Armed Forces was spotted in Hrodna. The equipment was moving to Minsk to take part in the military parade, which will take place on July 3. On April 16, the military cargo train arrived at Aziaryshcha station (Minsk).
- On April 16, a military cargo train with equipment of the 11th Mechanized Brigade of the Belarusian Armed Forces was being formed at Slonim station, and in Brest – with equipment of the 111th Artillery Brigade. The equipment was moving to Minsk to take part in the military parade, which will take place on July 3.
- On April 21, a military cargo train with equipment of (presumably) the 38th Air Assault Brigade of the Belarusian Armed Forces arrived at Brest-Uskhodni station.
Movements by road
- Single vehicles of the Russian Armed Forces were repeatedly spotted in Mazyr and Mazyr district.
- Small convoys (up to 10 pieces), single vehicles, and large convoys (10+ pieces) of the Belarusian Armed Forces were spotted in Minsk, Yelsk, Asipovichy, Polatsk, Hrodna, and on some sections of the М1, М5, М9, and other highways.
Separately, we can mention:
- a convoy of equipment of the 336th Rocket Artillery Brigade of the Belarusian Armed Forces;
- movements of military equipment of the Belarusian Armed Forces in Yelsk (Homiel region).
Combat training
Combat training activities with units of the Belarusian Armed Forces were conducted at the Hozhski, Brestski, Staradarozhski, Barysauski, Asipovichski, Damanava training grounds, as well as in some areas (Ashmiany and Pastavy districts).
Changes in the size of the Russian Armed Forces group and PMC Wagner in Belarus: no data.
General conclusion on current situation
1) During the week, the transfer of military equipment of the 6th and 11th Mechanized Brigades, the 111th Artillery Brigade, and 336th Rocket Artillery Brigades to Minsk was recorded. The equipment was transferred to prepare for the parade, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus. The parade will be held on July 3.
The best models of military equipment were collected from all over Belarus to take part in the parade. For example, BTR-82A armored personnel carriers, BRDM-4B armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicles, 2S3M Akatsiya 152-mm self-propelled howitzers (modernized in Russia), V-300 Polonez-M missile systems, Smerch 300-mm MLRS, etc.
2) As we noted in our review for April 8-14, the “active” season for field drills and other combat training activities has come to an end. The “seasonality” of field drills is affected, among other things, by the timing of the dismissal of conscripts who have completed their terms of service.
The past week was notable for a decrease in the number of reports on combat training activities. We can expect their intensification in the second half of June-early July (after the arrival of new recruits to the troops).
3) As noted above, a military cargo train with equipment of (presumably) the 38th Air Assault Brigade was recorded in Brest. This may mean that there was another rotation of the Special Operations Forces units deployed in Homiel district (Ziabrauka airfield). The battalion of the 38th Air Assault Brigade was probably replaced by a battalion of the 103rd Airborne Brigade.
The previous rotation of units took place in late February-early March. Rotations are usually conducted every two months. The military guard the border with Ukraine and Russian military facilities in Homiel region.
4) As we noted in our review for April 8-14, despite the completion of the main phase of the combat readiness inspection with the 19th Mechanized Brigade, some of its units (tank and mechanized battalions, about 760 people) are still stationed in the area bordering Lithuania.
There were no reports of these units returning to their permanent deployment point during the week. As we noted earlier, units of the Belarusian Armed Forces may remain in the area bordering Lithuania for a longer period of time (for example, until the end of the drills in Lithuania) and on a rotational basis.
The reason for the presence of the Belarusian military in the border area can be, for example, the conduct of a series of military drills on the territory of Lithuania in April-June, and the need to “cover the state border of Belarus”.
5) Activity of the Belarusian Armed Forces continues to be recorded in Yelsk (Homiel region). We recall that on April 8-9, air defense units of the Belarusian Armed Forces were redeployed to Yelsk district to protect the Mazyr oil refinery.