Events

MINSK, 15 September (BelTA) – The first stage of the Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017 continues, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Defense Ministry website.

During the first stage of the Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017 the joint command of the Belarusian-Russian regional military force intends to finish preparing troops for combat deployment and for isolating the areas where illegal armed groups and sabotage and reconnaissance forces of the imaginary enemy operate. Preparations to repulse a possible aggression will be finished. The organization of interaction and all kinds of support will be practiced.

At the same time the Air Force and Air Defense units will be reinforced in order to protect vital government institutions and important military installations.

Smooth operation of the joint command of the regional military force will be tested. The joint command is made of officers recruited from central bodies of the Belarusian and Russian armies, and the staff of the Western Military District of the Russian army.

The effectiveness of the command structure of the regional military force will be evaluated as well as practical skills of the officers as they control combat operations. The quality of documents will be checked as well as their conformity with the situation taking into account changes in modern warfare. The validity of decisions will be checked using modelling software and practical actions of the troops.

Since the regional military force was created in 2000, its command structure has been constantly improved. Practical aspects of the process were taken care of during the Belarusian-Russian army exercises Shchit Soyuza [Union Shield] 2006, Zapad [West] 2009, Shchit Soyuza 2011, Zapad 2013, Shchit Soyuza 2015 and during joint tabletop exercises.

Under the control of the joint command of the regional military force, units of the Belarusian and Russian armies are busy protecting parts of the state border in association with the border service, performing air defense duties, taking care of security of defensive positions, performing reconnaissance activities. The army units are also supposed to find, block, and eliminate sabotage and reconnaissance forces of the imaginary enemy, perform all kinds of reconnaissance in order to detect the location of sabotage and reconnaissance forces of the imaginary enemy and illegal armed groups. The formation and deployment of territorial defense troops will be practiced, the organization of field camps, their security and camouflage. All kinds of support for the military operations will be practiced.

Staffs of all levels are busy managing their forces and assets as they perform special operations, set up ambushes and maintain martial law.

Close attention is paid to preventing sabotage and reconnaissance forces of the imaginary enemy and illegal armed groups from infiltrating into the army staging areas.

Air Force and Air Defense units are busy performing air defense duties.

Air Force, Air Defense, and Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation are expected to stop light aircraft from delivering weapons and ammunition to the illegal armed groups. The units will have to stop such aircraft while on duty in the airfield and on duty in the air.

Near the village of Dretun Mi-8 helicopters of Belarusian army unit No.06752 and Mi-24 helicopters of the Russian army are busy looking for and eliminating sabotage and reconnaissance forces of the imaginary enemy and illegal armed groups. The aerial units also provide support to troops on the ground.

Special operations forces are expected to carry out their missions to reinforce parts of the state border. They will also perform special operations in their responsibility areas.

Air assault units and reconnaissance units of the 38^th Independent Guards Airborne Brigade continue looking for sabotage and reconnaissance forces of the imaginary enemy and illegal armed groups, isolating them. The units will also have to find stashes (caches) with material supplies.

In Glubokoye District territorial defense forces are busy carrying out designated missions within the territorial unit. Among other things they have to protect and defend vital installations and repulse sabotage and reconnaissance forces of the imaginary enemy and illegal armed groups.