MINSK, 5 March (BelTA) – Seventeen battalion tactical groups of NATO and the United States are stationed in the Baltic states and Poland, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, First Deputy Defense Minister of Belarus Pavel Muraveiko said as he visited the 230th combined-arms military exercise area that is hosting a command and staff exercise, BelTA learned.
“The situation at our borders is difficult. In recent years, the process of militarization of the neighboring countries has sharply intensified. The number of exercises has doubled or even tripled. They are mainly offensive and related to aggressive use or aggressive actions in certain directions. The number of contingents stationed near our borders has increased. For example, today, in addition to the national military contingents of the Baltic states and Poland, there are 17 NATO and United States battalion tactical groups on their territory, and they are equipped with quite serious weapons and hardware. Reconnaissance of our country's territory is ongoing. Its intensity has increased approximately fivefold compared to 2020. In the past we recorded two or three airplane sorties per week, now we have about five or six, sometimes up to 10 sorties that monitor our territory. Satellite reconnaissance has become more active. We also record that satellites look through our territory in various angles at certain intervals,” Pavel Muraveiko said.
This situation, he said, forces Belarus to take certain decisions to develop and improve its security. “Our defense industry complex has clear objectives in terms of development of modern weapon systems and unmanned aviation. We are ordering new samples and elements of armaments: weapons, sights, ammunition, hardware and so on. We clearly understand that our state must be prepared to defend itself, and that is why we conduct surprise combat readiness checks. We have a certain resource allocated by the government to ensure the training of the military reserve. We are not disrupting economic processes and relations. All economic entities are understanding of such activities. In addition, we are very closely following the development of modern technologies and forms and methods and we introduce them into our combat practice,” the Chief of General Staff emphasized.
“The situation at our borders is difficult. In recent years, the process of militarization of the neighboring countries has sharply intensified. The number of exercises has doubled or even tripled. They are mainly offensive and related to aggressive use or aggressive actions in certain directions. The number of contingents stationed near our borders has increased. For example, today, in addition to the national military contingents of the Baltic states and Poland, there are 17 NATO and United States battalion tactical groups on their territory, and they are equipped with quite serious weapons and hardware. Reconnaissance of our country's territory is ongoing. Its intensity has increased approximately fivefold compared to 2020. In the past we recorded two or three airplane sorties per week, now we have about five or six, sometimes up to 10 sorties that monitor our territory. Satellite reconnaissance has become more active. We also record that satellites look through our territory in various angles at certain intervals,” Pavel Muraveiko said.
This situation, he said, forces Belarus to take certain decisions to develop and improve its security. “Our defense industry complex has clear objectives in terms of development of modern weapon systems and unmanned aviation. We are ordering new samples and elements of armaments: weapons, sights, ammunition, hardware and so on. We clearly understand that our state must be prepared to defend itself, and that is why we conduct surprise combat readiness checks. We have a certain resource allocated by the government to ensure the training of the military reserve. We are not disrupting economic processes and relations. All economic entities are understanding of such activities. In addition, we are very closely following the development of modern technologies and forms and methods and we introduce them into our combat practice,” the Chief of General Staff emphasized.
At the same time, Pavel Muraveiko noted that despite all the processes that are taking place near the borders, the security of the Republic of Belarus is guaranteed and ensured.
Today, a number of units manned by people called up from the reserve are taking part in a command and staff exercise with live firing. For these military units, this is the final stage of the combat readiness test.
Today, a number of units manned by people called up from the reserve are taking part in a command and staff exercise with live firing. For these military units, this is the final stage of the combat readiness test.
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