Special-purpose battalion to guard nuclear plant

July 23, BPN. A special-purpose battalion has been organized to guard the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Ašmianski Vestnik reported.

The battalion conducted a combat readiness drill on July 22, the state-run newspaper said.

In all, Belarus is to establish five special-purpose units in 2023, said Mikalaj Karpiankoŭ, commander of the Interior Troops.

The units are trained to arrest armed criminals, release hostages and search and destroy subversive and reconnaissance groups, he said.

Located near Astraviec, Hrodna region, some 10 miles off the Lithuanian border, the Belarusian NPP has been designed by Russia’s Rosatom and built with a Russian loan. Lithuania views the plant as unsafe and describes it as a “geopolitical weapon.”

Unit 1 started pilot operation in November 2020, and commercial operation, in June 2021. Unit 2 is scheduled to begin commercial operation in October.