GOMEL, 14 August (BelTA) – Preparations for the Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017 are now in the final phase. Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian army, Belarusian First Deputy Defense Minister, Major-General Oleg Belokonev made the statement on the air of the TV channel Belarus One, BelTA has learned.
Oleg Belokonev said: “We have reached the final phase. Two major final events will begin soon — an exercise for the logistics and technical support system and a tactical exercise for air force units.” He also stressed that the Zapad 2017 exercise was purely defensive, transparent, and open.
The Zapad 2017 exercise is scheduled to take place on 14-20 September. It will represent the final stage in this year's joint training curriculum for the Belarusian and Russian armies. Such exercises are held every two years in Belarus or Russia by the decision of the heads of state. The forthcoming exercise will practice preparing and deploying a military force to ensure the military security of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.
The exercise will be staged to improve the operational compatibility of staffs of different levels. It will also establish cohesion between promising personnel and weaponry control systems. New Belarusian and Russian army regulations will be tested. Commanding officers and staffs will accrue experience as they plan military operations to stabilize the situation and manage military forces in the course of such operations.
Practical actions of military command units and troops will take place in exercise areas in Belarus and Russia.
The Zapad 2017 exercise will include two steps. Apart from practicing the application of military forces participants of the exercise will perform territorial defense tasks, beef up the security of the state border, restore the combat ability of the troops, and provide all kinds of support to the army units.
