Military activity on the territory of Belarus on December 23-January 5
Aviation activity, movements of the troops by rail and roads in Belarus.
Belarus has increased its military presence in the regions bordering Ukraine. Units of the Ground Forces of the Belarusian Armed Forces were redeployed to Stolin, Lelchytsy, Mazyr and Homiel districts.
In late December, an IL-76 military transport aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces arrived in Belarus from Russia.
Aviation activity
Aviation activity was recorded at Machulishchy, Baranavichy, and Luninets airfields. Flights of aircraft and helicopters of the Belarusian Air Force and Russian Aerospace Forces were recorded.
Belarusian Air Force
- On January 1 and 3, flights of fighters of the Belarusian Air Force from Baranavichy airfield were recorded in the southeastern regions of Belarus.
Russian Aerospace Forces
- On December 25, an IL-76 military transport aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces arrived at Machulishchy airfield from Russia.
Railroad activity
- No railroad activity was recorded.
Movements by road
- No movements of the Russian Armed Forces were recorded.
- Single vehicles and small convoys (up to 10 vehicles) of the Belarusian Armed Forces were spotted in Mazyr and on some sections of the R31 and other highways.
General conclusion on current situation
On December 24, the chairman of Hrodna Regional Executive Committee and the commander of the Western Operational Command of the Belarusian Armed Forces “congratulated the servicemen who perform tasks to strengthen the state border of Belarus.” On December 29, a similar event was held by the chairmen of Homiel Regional Executive Committee and Mazyr District Executive Committee, as well as the commander of the Northwestern Operational Command. The above-mentioned events indicate the redeployment of units of the Ground Forces to the area bordering Ukraine.
According to available information, the following units were redeployed to the Ukrainian border area:
- The 11th Mechanized Brigade (military unit 33933, Slonim): the separate mechanized battalion, the 841st Artillery Group (some units), the reconnaissance battalion (some units), the anti-aircraft missile-artillery divizion (some units). The brigade’s units are stationed in Stolin district (Brest region) and Lelchytsy district (Homiel region).
- The 147th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (military unit 96869, Babruisk): a battery of the Osa-AKM SAM system (location unknown).
- The 120th Mechanized Brigade (military unit 04147, Minsk): the 358th Separate Mechanized Battalion, the 310th Artillery Group (some units), the reconnaissance battalion (some units), the anti-aircraft missile-artillery divizion (some units). The brigade’s units are stationed in the vicinity of Ziabrauka (Homiel district) and Mazyr (Bokau) (Mazyr district) airfields.
The exact time of redeployment of units of the Belarusian Armed Forces is unknown. It probably took place in the second half of December 2024.
Recall that in early August 2024, a number of units of the Belarusian Armed Forces (including the 120th Mechanized Brigade) were redeployed to Homiel region to strengthen protection of the border with Ukraine. In late September and early October, the units returned to the permanent deployment point. At the same time, units of the Special Operations Forces continued to carry out tasks in the regions bordering Ukraine.