Events

MOSCOW, 15 September (BelTA) – Belarusian and Russian army units are working together to plan and carry out a joint operation to block and eliminate illegal armed groups in the exercise areas Osipovichsky and Borisovsky as part of the Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017, BelTA learned from representatives of the Information and Mass Communications Department of the Russian Defense Ministry.

Commanding officers and staffs of the joint military force have started planning a joint operation designed to block and destroy sabotage and reconnaissance forces of the imaginary enemy in the relevant responsibility areas. The staffs of various levels of the armed forces of the Union State of Belarus and Russia focus on connections between and compatibility of advanced troops control systems as they plan and organize combat operations.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, infantry units, tank units, and artillery units together with air defense forces of the Western Military District are working together with units of the Belarusian army in the above-mentioned exercise areas to protect defensive positions, repulse attacks, block and destroy the imaginary enemy.

The Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017 began on 14 September to end on 20 September under the supervision of the chiefs of the general staffs of the Belarusian and Russian armies. The main purpose of the exercise is to improve operational cohesion of staffs of different levels, connections between and compatibility of advanced troops control systems. New army regulations will be practiced. Commanding officers of all ranks will practice commanding troops taking into account the combat experience of modern armed conflicts. The Zapad 2017 exercise is the final stage in the joint army training efforts of Belarus and Russia.