MINSK, 5 August (BelTA) – The Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2021 is based on a scenario, which envisages aggression against the Union State of Belarus and Russia, BelTA learned from Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, First Deputy Defense Minister of Belarus Viktor Gulevich during a media briefing on 5 August.
Viktor Gulevich said: “The concept of the exercise was jointly developed by the general staffs of the armed forces of Belarus and Russia and is purely defensive. The concept was developed taking into account modern approaches to the deployment of forces (troops) on the basis of experience of armed conflicts of the last few years, combat training events as well as troops deployment forms and methods, which have been worked out by the Belarusian army and the Russian one. The concept was worked out using one possible variant for the evolution of the military and political situation resulting in the aggravation of international contradictions to a point that can destabilize the situation in the region and can launch an aggression against the Union State. A crisis situation scenario revolving around a conflict prompted by the growing activity of illegal armed bands, separatist and international terrorist organizations, which enjoy external support, is at the heart of the concept of the exercise. Territories of the opposing forces and the state borders are provisional. The Northerners includes the Union State of the Republic of Polesie and the Central Federation. The Westerners include a coalition of interested states (Nyaris, Pomoria, Polar Republic) and international terrorist organizations.”
The key reason behind the worsening situation is the eagerness of the Westerners to destabilize the situation in the Republic of Polesie and worsen relations between entities of the Union State, replace the political leadership in the Republic of Polesie and attach the country's western areas to Nyaris. “However, after failing to reach their goals and after failing to initiate a domestic armed conflict in the Republic of Polesie the Westerners resort to the most radical measures and launch an aggression against the Union State. In turn, the Republic of Polesie and the Central Federation are intent on ensuring stability in the region on the basis of universally recognized international law norms. They are intent on preserving their territorial integrity and independence. National interests of the Republic of Polesie and the Central Federation will be secured by implementing a set of measures meant to enable conditions that will stop military action on the terms that meet interests of the Union State, including the use of the regional military force at levels that are adequate to the military threat,” said the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus.
The theme of the exercise is the deployment of troops (forces) for the sake of ensuring the military security of the Union State.
The Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2021 is a scheduled one and represents the final stage in the joint training of Belarusian and Russian armed forces this year. In line with the training plan the exercise will take place in Belarus and nine army exercise areas in Russia (Kirillovsky, Strugi Krasnyye, Mulino, Pogonovo, Khmelevka, Pravdinsky, Dobrovolsky, Dorogobuzh, Volsky) on 10-16 September.
