Events

MOSCOW, 15 September (BelTA) – Russian reporters will be in Belarus on 20 September to watch the active phase of the Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017, representatives of the Permanent Committee of the Union State of Belarus and Russia told BelTA.

A media tour focusing on military technology cooperation in the Union State of Belarus and Russia will take place on 19-20 September. It is timed to the Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017. About 30 representatives of Russian, Belarusian, and Union State mass media are expected to take part in the tour.

On the first day the reporters will visit OAO 558 Aircraft Repair Plant in Baranovichi, Brest Oblast. It is Belarus’ only company and one of the few CIS companies that offer a broad range of aircraft repair and modernization services. Apart from repairing aircraft and helicopters the company designs and makes EMI shielding solutions for aircraft to protect them from high-precision guided weapons. The company also makes tactical unmanned aerial vehicles and many other things. The reporters will go on a tour of enterprise. They will be shown the latest products and technologies. The company’s management will hold a press conference at the end of the visit.

As the key part of the media tour the reporters will watch the active phase of the Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017 in an army exercise area in Belarus. The event is scheduled for 20 September. Representatives of mass media will be granted a unique opportunity to see the Belarusian-Russian wargames with their own eyes. Once the active combat operations are over in the army exercise area, participants of the media tour are expected to meet with State Secretary of the Union State of Belarus and Russia Grigory Rapota.

On the last day of the media tour the reporters will visit a memorial in the village of Russkoye Selo. It was erected at the site of where Russian soldiers, who fell during World War One, are buried. The reporters will also visit a museum in the village of Zabrodye, Minsk Oblast where the frontline once was during World War One. The reporters will be shown a collection of original items and documents reflecting events of the previous century. There are several 20^th century retro vehicles in the museum. They are in working condition and regularly feature in movies.

The media tour has been organized the Permanent Committee of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the National Press Center of Belarus with assistance of the Defense Ministry and the State Military Industrial Committee of Belarus.