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Belarusian Armed Forces begin self-operating Iskander missile systems — statement

The Belarusian Defense Ministry noted that the system crews only include officers, ensigns and professional soldiers

MINSK, February 1. /TASS/. Belarusian armed forces have commenced independent use of the Iskander missile system, received from Russia, the Belarusian Defense Ministry announced Wednesday.

"Belarusian servicemen have started fully independent operation of the Iskander tactical missile system," the Ministry said. "Belarusian servicemen underwent training in the Russian Federation. After completing their theory course, the artillerymen underwent hands-on training on Belarusian military grounds."

The Belarusian Defense Ministry noted that the system crews only include officers, ensigns and professional soldiers.

In late December, 2022, head of the Defense Ministry’s ideological education department Leonid Kasinsky announced that Belarusian servicemen operating Iskander systems and S-400 air defense systems underwent training at joint Russian-Belarusian military training centers.

Previously, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that Russian-made S-400 and Iskander systems have already been deployed in the republic. He also noted that Belarus trains, with assistance from Russia, crews for aircraft that can carry special payloads. During a joint press conference with Lukashenko on December 19, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia will continue training crews for Belarusian planes which have been refurbished to carry air-based weapons with special payloads.

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