Rescuers, police and military to hold drills involving attack on oil depot

June 26, BPN. Units of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Belarusian Armed Forces will hold joint special tactical exercises on response to man-made emergencies in the village of Śvietłaja Rošča (Minsk region) on June 27.

More than 200 officers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations will practice firefighting and rescue operations, the ministry’s press service said. There will also be “simulation of an oil depot explosion by an enemy drone,” it added.

Other agencies will practice detaining a sabotage group, disrupting the transportation of radioactive substances and freeing hostages. Eliminating “the consequences of an aviation terrorist incident” will also be in focus.

Since June 24, the police and internal troops have been practicing to patrol and defend transport facilities.

Russian troops launched a massive missile strike on Ukraine from the Belarusian territory on the night of June 25, firing a total of more than 50 air-, sea-, and land-based missiles, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. 

This comes amid concerns in Kyiv that the Belarusian army may join Russia’s advance on Ukraine. Minsk denies having aggressive plans.