Joint command checks troops’ readiness at drills with Russia

January 25, BPN. Belarus’ Security Council continues combat readiness checks at Belarusian units involved in the joint regional Belarusian-Russian group of forces, the defense ministry’s press office reported.

The drills focus on commanders’ ability to control and manage military units under various conditions and evaluate their readiness to fulfill time-sensitive missions, it noted.

Russia and Belarus announced a plan to set up the 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.