Territorial troops start three-week drills in Minsk, Homiel region

May 11, BPN. Territorial defense forces will be holding drills between May 11 and June 2 in Minsk, Homiel and the Mazyr district of the Homiel region, the defense ministry’s press office reported.

Reservists will train “a set of measures related to the formation of territorial troops and their preparation for the fulfillment of territorial defense tasks,” the ministry noted.

The units will practice protecting civilian facilities and policing cities together with the interior ministry’s personnel, it added.

Command-staff exercises under the supervision of senior officials from the Homiel region and Minsk will conclude the drill.

Territorial troops are formed of reservists and are called up in wartime or in times of military and political tensions to assist the army.