Belarus announces second stage of military quick-response drills

Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin has announced the second stage of military quick-response drills in the country.

Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus Viktor Gulevich stated that the US and its allies are scaling up their military presence near the Belarusian border. Gulevich added that the NATO-led DEFENDER-Europe drills will involve up to 20,000 soldiers and numerous equipment units. Besides, seven more military exercises are planned on the territory of states bordering Belarus.

The chief of Belarus’ General Staff added that the NATO drills do not seem to be “of peaceful nature” due to the involvement of reconnaissance forces, airborne troops and special operations forces in the exercises. “With this in mind, the [Belarusian] Armed Forces have developed a wide range of exercises aimed to counteract the existing threats,” Gulevich stated.

Within the second-stage of quick-response drills, battalion tactical groups will be sent to the western and northwestern areas of Belarus, the defence ministry said.

Territorial defence forces in the Kobryn and Lida districts of Belarus’ Brest and Hrodna regions will be formed starting May 10, the defence ministry’s press service said. Up to 430 officers will be drafted from the country’s reserve forces.

Belarus announced sudden military quick-response drills on May 4. The aim of the drills is to estimate the readiness of the Belarusian military “to quickly respond to possible crisis situations.” The ministry noted that these exercises are “one of the most effective forms of military training” and that they “do not pose any threat to the European community as a whole or to the neighbouring states in particular.”

The defence ministry added that “a significant number of military equipment” will be moving around the country, which may cause traffic disruptions.