All news

Belarusian commander praises air exercise of regional group of forces

The forces trained aerial reconnaissance activities, joint border patrolling, ways to target air defense facilities and command points, conduct tactical air assault landings, deliver cargo, evacuate the wounded and relocate Belarusian and Russian aircraft units to operational airfields

MINSK, February 1. /TASS/. Participants in the air exercise of the regional group of forces of Belarus and Russia performed their missions at a high level, Commander of the Belarusian Air and Air Defense Forces Colonel Andrey Lukyanovich said, according to the country’s Defense Ministry.

"Commander of the Belarusian Air and Air Defense Forces Colonel Andrey Lukyanovich thanked participants in the drills for the work they had done and praised their skills in performing the assigned missions," the ministry said in a statement.

The exercise took place in Belarus between January 16 and February 1. The forces trained aerial reconnaissance activities, joint border patrolling, ways to target air defense facilities and command points, conduct tactical air assault landings, deliver cargo, evacuate the wounded and relocate Belarusian and Russian aircraft units to operational airfields. Minsk repeatedly emphasized that the air drills were purely defensive and weren’t aimed against anyone.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated on October 10, 2022, that under an agreement with Moscow, the formation of a regional group of forces had begun, the bulk of which would be made up of Belarusian service members. Minsk announced the arrival of the first trains carrying Russian troops in mid-October. Russian President Vladimir Putin said, following talks with Lukashenko in the Belarusian capital on December 19, that Moscow and Minsk would continue to carry out joint exercises and other combat training activities, particularly involving the regional group of forces. In early January, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said that efforts were underway to build up the regional forces and boost their readiness to perform missions aimed at protecting the Union State of Belarus and Russia.