Belarus’, Russia’s military aircraft training near Poland, Ukraine

January 20, BPN. Belarusian and Russian aircraft “continue to carry out planned missions from all airfields of Belarus’ Air/Air Defense Forces” as part of joint air and tactical drills, the defense ministry’s press office reported.

Air crews hone their combat skills at the training range in Ružany, Brest region, in the vicinity of the Polish and Ukrainian borders, it noted. Their training missions include suppressing air defenses, carrying out air strikes, and covering attack groups of fighter jets, it added.

An A-50 early warning and control aircraft currently stationed at the Mačuliščy military airfield near Minsk performs aerial reconnaissance and coordinates the movements of multi-purpose fighters, the ministry said.

On January 18, Andrej Łukjanovič, commander of the Belarusian Air/Air Defense Forces, said that the drills should “improve interoperability.”

Russia and Belarus announced a plan to set up a regional group of forces last October. Russia increased its contingent in Belarus to an estimated 11,000 troops and delivered weapons, vehicles and equipment. Russian and Belarusian troops completed combat coordination on January 6.

Joint Belarusian-Russian air and tactical drills started on January 16 and will continue until February 1.

The drills are taking place amid ongoing Russia’s war against 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 on multiple occasions.