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15 January 2020, 19:05

Over 11,000 explosive threats defused by Belarusian army in 2019

MINSK DISTRICT, 15 January (BelTA) – Bomb disposal teams neutralized over 11,000 explosive ordnances in 2019, BelTA learned from Chief of the Engineer Corps of the Armed Forces, Chief of the Engineer Corps Office of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus, Colonel Andrei Kurakov.

Andrei Kurakov

According to the source, mobile bomb disposal teams responded to over 400 requests for neutralizing explosive threats in 2019. Over 11,000 explosive ordnances were detected and destroyed as a result. As many as 28 mobile teams trained by 13 units of the Belarusian army took part in this work.

“Our land is still stuffed with artillery shells, bombs, and grenades left by World War Two and World War One. We keep finding and neutralizing them. Unfortunately, their numbers stay steady every year,” the officer added.

For instance, over 9,000 rounds of ammunition left by World War Two were found and neutralized near the railway station Krulevshchizna in Dokshitsy District in 2019. The ammunition was left there after German troops blew up an ordnance depot. Belarusian army units will keep working at the site this year as well.

In 2019 all the mobile bomb disposal teams were fitted with splinter-proof suits and new mine detectors of Austrian and American make. “Our tools for detecting explosive threats are probably on par with the world's best these days,” Andrei Kurakov noted.

A training session for pontoon bridge units will be one of the main events for Belarusian army engineers this year. It will take place on the Dnieper River near Mogilev. The training session will end with a special tactical exercise.

A mine disarming training session took place at premises of the 2nd Engineer Brigade near Minsk on 15 January. Weapons, equipment, and gear used by army units were put on display. Participants of the training session were supposed to practice searching for and destroying explosive threats in various situations. Bomb disposal teams took part in practical classes. It was the first time army engineers had tested an explosion disabler in practice.

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