More than 3,000 reservists called up for military drill

March 17, Pozirk. More than 3,000 reservists have been called up for a combat readiness drill, the defense ministry reported.

The training comes in response to NATO’s Steadfast Defender, a multi-domain exercise, incorporating land, air, sea, cyber and space operations.

The defense ministry noted that “the deployment of personnel is prompt and tightly scheduled.”

“Military enlistment offices and personnel reception stations . . . are working around the clock,” the ministry said.

Its network VoenTV reported that “troops are training at various terrains and ranges.”

“The scenario takes into account the challenges facing our country, the military and political situation around the republic, and trends in the art of defense,” the network said.

The defense ministry said “the department distributing reserve officers, warrant officers, sergeants and soldiers performs a wide range of tasks to organize the work of the personnel reception station of the 19th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade.”

Department head Taćciana Arłova said military enlistment offices “provide name lists and relevant accounting documents.”

“We check personnel against the lists and assign reservists based on their ranks and specialties. The department has a high capacity because the draft is carried out by several teams at once,” Arłova said.

The comprehensive drill will be stepped up, General Staff Chief Viktar Hulevič announced on March 15.

The military plans to deploy military hardware, which can disrupt the movement of civilian transport on public roads and terrain, the defense ministry said.

NATO’s Steadfast Defender involves deploying forces from North America and other parts of the Alliance to Europe. Over several months, complex multi-domain operations will be conducted across thousands of kilometers, thereby enhancing civil-military cooperation and national and collective resilience.

The exercise is strategically located in several key European countries, including Finland, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Events are taking place from late January to the end of May.