Belarus readies artillery for regional group with Russia

January 13, BPN. Artillery units of the 11th Mechanized Brigade stationed in Słonim, Hrodna region, have been ordered to prepare for “carrying out their tasks,” the defense ministry’s press office said.

The move comes as part of “joint activities” of the Belarusian-Russian regional group of forces.

A Russian defense ministry commission headed by Ground Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleg Salyukov arrived in Belarus on January 12 to inspect Russian military units of the group.

The Russian officers observed drills to assess units’ readiness to carry out their tasks and maintain the Union State’s military security, it added.

On January 8, the defense ministry reported that a Russian aviation component arrived in Belarus. Belarusian and Russian pilots are expected to train together from January 16 to February 1. Two days later official reports said that the Russian-Belarusian group’s air defenses were being beefed up.

Russia and Belarus vowed to set up a regional group of forces last October amid the ongoing Russia’s war in Ukraine. Authorities in Minsk denied Belarusian troops’ involvement in combat operations on the Russian side. However, Belarus allowed Russian troops to attack Ukraine from its territory.