MINSK, 13 August (BelTA) – Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin talked to reporters after delivering a confidential report to Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 13 August, BelTA has learned.
The minister explained that the report had been thorough and had covered many topics. In particular, it describes the state of affairs in Belarus’ Armed Forces, the military activity aspect of the situation at Belarus’ border with neighboring countries, the degree of the Belarusian army’s readiness for repulsing a potential aggression.
According to Viktor Khrenin, one of the central topics covered by the report was preparations for holding the Belarusian-Russian strategic military exercise Zapad 2025 [West 2025]. The preparations proceed in strict compliance with previous instructions. All the main active steps and actions of the troops will take place in the center of the country, in the army’s main military training areas outside the city of Borisov.
Two Russian army units have already arrived in Belarus for the sake of taking part in the Zapad 2025 exercise. They are getting deployed in the military training area. In turn, two units of the 120th Mechanized Brigade of Belarus’ Armed Forces have left for Russia where they will take part in practical events of this exercise.
Viktor Khrenin mentioned the staffs are ready for holding the Zapad 2025 exercise. In his words, the final steps are being taken to prepare the military training areas.
“We feel confident and calm. We don’t hide the topics of the exercise,” he stressed. “We say that the main one is to practice defending our territory by using the joint regional military force. It is a scheduled event. It is not some unexpected decision.” In line with decisions of the heads of state Belarus and Russia hold these exercises every two years. This year’s exercise will take place on 12-16 September and will involve two stages.
During the first stage the staffs will have to practice planning and managing the troops in the course of repulsing an aggression against the Union State of Belarus and Russia. During the second stage the liberation of captured territories and the stabilization of the situation will be practiced. “We state it plainly and we are going to carry out all of it in a calm manner,” the defense minister said.
Apart from that, the report to the president covered preparations for holding a military exercise within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The exercise is due to take place in Vitebsk Oblast on 31 August – 6 September. Some of the designated Russian army units have already arrived. Military contingents from other CSTO countries are expected to arrive. Viktor Khrenin stressed that this exercise is also being held on schedule, absolutely calmly and demonstrates Belarus’ openness and the transparency of the country’s intentions.
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