Active phase of command and staff drill begins in Brest

September 12, BPN. Brest City Executive Committee Chairman Alaksandr Rahačuk has told the region’s residents that a command and staff exercise enters its active phase on September 12.

“During the afternoon, Brest would hear the hum of aircraft and a cannonade. Various types of hardware would be moved,” the official said on Telegram. “There is no cause for concern at all. All these activities would be carried out as part of exercises.”

Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin, Interior Minister Ivan Kubrakoŭ, Emergencies Minister Vadzim Siniaŭski and State Border Committee Chairman Anatol Łapo are observing the game’s final tactical episode at the Brescki training ground, the Ministry of Defense reported.

The Belarusian Armed Forces’ command and staff exercises are held on September 8-14 under the leadership of Chief of the General Staff Viktar Hulevič.

Their declared goal is to practice recapturing territories seized by “enemy forces,” restoring control over the state border, backing troops with aircraft, enforcing martial law and suppressing sabotage and illegal armed groups.

On February 24, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine. Authorities in Minsk deny Belarusian army troops’ involvement in combat operations on the Russian side. However, Belarus allowed Russian troops and weapons to move freely through the country, use its airspace, refuel and store military equipment and attack Ukraine from its territory.

A 20,000-strong grouping of Russian forces crossed into Ukraine from Belarus at the outset of the war, Alaksandr Łukašenka told AFP in an interview on July 21. Russian troops retreated from northern Ukraine later.