MOSCOW, 21 January (BelTA) – Russia has dispatched two battalions of surface-to-air missile systems S-400 Trimf from its Eastern Military District to Belarus for the drills to test the preparedness of the Unified Regional Air Defense System of Belarus and Russia, BelTA learned from Russia's Defense Ministry.
“The air defense units will undertake a combined march by rail and on their own to training grounds in the Republic of Belarus,” the Russian ministry said. “Upon arrival at the training grounds, the teams will assume their positions, equip and camouflage them and practice air defense as part of the Unified Regional Air Defense System of Belarus and Russia.”
The inspection will be held in two phases. The first one (which runs until 9 February) will rehearse deploying troops and defending military facilities. The exercise will assess the readiness and ability of the air defense forces on duty to provide protection for key facilities in Belarus.
The joint exercise Allied Resolve 2022 will be held at the second phase of the inspection, from 10 to 20 February. The exercise will practice suppressing and repelling external aggression in the course of a defensive operation, countering terrorism and protecting the interests of the Union State. The exercise will also drill reinforcing state border sections in potential areas of illegal penetration of armed groups into Belarus and shutting down channels of the supply of arms, munitions and other means and also searching for, blocking and eliminating outlawed armed militants and enemy subversive and reconnaissance groups.
The troops will practice their joint operations at the Obuz-Lesnovsky, Osipovichsky, Brestsky, Gozhsky and Domanovsky training grounds and also at some terrain sections in Belarus. The exercise will also involve the airfields in Baranovichi, Luninets, Lida and Machulishchi.
“In terms of the strength of the engaged personnel, basic armaments and military hardware, the upcoming inspection is not subject to prior notification in accordance with the 2011 Vienna document,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
