MINSK, 19 September (BelTA) – A muster of troops in the Russian army exercise area Mulino finished the Belarusian-Russian tactical army exercise Union Shield 2019 on 19 September, the press service of the Belarusian Defense Ministry told BelTA.
Belarusian Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General Andrei Ravkov told media: “The joint tactical exercise has drawn to its logical close. Our military personnel will get back to the home country very soon.” Summing up results of the exercise, he noted that it was not the only combat training event, including an event held together with the Russian army. However, it is a major exercise, this is why it is the main one this year.
According to the source, the Belarusian army units had to carry out virtually all missions at night. The moral and psychological state of participants of the exercise helped them do their jobs. Proper accommodations and amenities were available so that nothing could distract them from the main mission.
The exercise has accomplished its tasks, Andrei Ravkov noted. The system to train armed forces in Belarus and Russia is designed to make sure the armies are constantly ready to carry out missions required to protect the Union State of Belarus and Russia and the two countries against an enemy.
The army units are now getting ready to get back to Belarus.
A large-scale parade of military hardware took place on 19 September. The military personnel, who excelled during the exercise, were awarded. The muster of the troops ended with a festive concert of Russian and Belarusian army musicians.
The Belarusian-Russian army exercise Union Shield 2019 began in the Mulino exercise area in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast on 13 September. Some 12,000 military personnel, up to 950 units of military hardware, up to 70 aircraft and helicopters took part in the exercise. OSCE member states have been notified about it in line with the 2011 Vienna Document on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures. The Belarusian army was represented by over 4,000 military personnel, more than 30 tanks, 80 armored fighting vehicles, about 50 MLRS, artillery, and mortar units as well as aircraft and helicopters.
