Russia vows to protect Union State in any circumstances

MINSK, 29 September (BelTA) – The Armed Forces of Russia will protect interests and peoples of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in any circumstances, BelTA learned from Deputy Defense Minister, Chief of the Central Military and Political Office of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Colonel-General Andrei Kartapolov on 29 September.

During the plenary session of the 7th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia Andrei Kartapolov said: “The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are true to the allied commitments and will protect interests of our nations and ensure the security of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in any circumstances.”

The official said: “NATO continues building up its combat potential and stepping up its activities in Europe. NATO's military infrastructure is being deployed fast in the Baltic states. The main purpose of the expansion of the military activity is to dismantle the military union of Belarus and Russia.”

In his words, effective interaction of the Belarusian Defense Ministry and the Russian one has never been more important in conditions of the seriously deteriorated military and political situation.

Andrei Kartapolov also stated that Belarusian-Russian army exercises are being organized to counterbalance the deployment of NATO forces near borders of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.

Belarusian-Russian army exercise focuses on defense of Union State borders

According to Chief of the Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Armed Forces of Belarus, Major-General Igor Golub, Belarusian Air Force duty units and Russian units have already performed a number of missions.

Belarusian defense minister observes army exercise in Russia's Astrakhan Oblast

A battalion tactical group of a mechanized brigade of the Belarusian army is taking part in the exercise as part of multinational force groupings.

“As the leaders of our countries have stated, Russia and Belarus will continue cooperation in military affairs. We intend to carry out most of the joint events, which are scheduled to take place this year,” Andrei Kartapolov noted. He added that work is in progress to improve the joint training of Belarusian and Russian armed forces in 2021 and later on.

The 7th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia is scheduled to take place in Minsk on 28-29 September to discuss the historical legacy of the Great Victory as the foundation of development of social, economic, and spiritual ties of the peoples of Belarus and Russia. Events of the forum are held in the videoconference format in view of a recent increase in coronavirus cases.