MINSK, 3 February (BelTA) – The relocation of a large contingent of armed forces from Russia to western borders of the Union State of Belarus and Russia as part of the Belarusian-Russian army exercise Allied Resolve 2022 went brilliantly. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the statement as he met with Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 3 February, BelTA has learned.
Sergei Shoigu said: “Today we will arrange a major inspection to examine what was done during preparations for the exercise and examine what has yet to be done.” He remarked that the relocation of a large number of army units with their hardware from Russia over the distance of nearly 10,000km is nearing completion.
Sergei Shoigu spoke in positive terms about the measures taken to accommodate such a large force in Belarus. He praised efforts of the leadership of the country and the Belarusian Defense Ministry. “Everything was organized in a way that there are even reserves now. In other words, everything was organized more than brilliantly, even more vehicles can be deployed,” he said.
The defense minister pointed out that the army exercise had been organized upon instructions of the commanders-in-chief of Belarus and Russia. In his opinion, the exercise has been organized bearing in mind the circumstances. “You correctly noted that January forced us to start this exercise, the tests, and joint work much sooner due to events in Kazakhstan,” Sergei Shoigu told Aleksandr Lukashenko. “Certainly, thanks to prompt work of the presidents – you and Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] as well as your colleagues in the Collective Security Treaty Organization – this operation was completed on the tightest schedule possible. Life already indicates today that it was a timely move.”
