News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 29 May (BelTA) – A new concept for arranging a parade during this year’s Independence Day was discussed at a government conference hosted by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on 29 May. Belarusian Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov revealed details of the forthcoming event, BelTA has learned.

According to the source, the parade will be a traditional one with a certain number of novelties. More troops will parade on foot. The troops will be detached by mechanized brigades and territorial defense troops. More vehicles will be involved in this year’s parade as well. Preliminary calculations place the number at about 220 units of equipment, said Andrei Ravkov.

The latest products of the Belarusian defense industry will be showcased. The number will include armored fighting vehicles Cayman and V1, radio relay stations, mobile air defense artillery systems 2K20 Zenit, rescue and healthcare vehicles. “A squadron of the 12 Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters we finished buying in May will be fully represented,” pointed out the Belarusian defense minister.

Representatives of Russia’s Western Military District will attend the parade as guests. Russian Ka-52 helicopters, Su-27 jet fighters, and Su-34 fighter-bombers will be represented in the aerial part of the Independence Day parade.

After the parade is over, some of the vehicles will be left in Minsk’s streets so that people could take a closer look at them and touch them. Apart from that, the latest civilian equipment and vehicles made in Belarus will be demonstrated in Minsk on Independence Day.

Andrei Ravkov made it clear that this year’s Independence Day parade will not be another run-of-the-mill event. Rehearsals will be staged as usual. “The cost of the parade will be covered by the army budget. No additional money will be appropriated,” said the official.