BORISOV DISTRICT, 13 February (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko is personally inspecting the combat readiness of the Armed Forces. As part of a snap inspection, the head of state arrived at the 227th combined arms training ground in Borisov District on 13 February,
BelTA has learned.
Upon arrival, the head of state heard a report on the progress of the inspection. Details were provided by Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, who was informed of the president’s unexpected visit only at 7 am.
Aleksandr Lukashenko inquired about the preliminary results of the inspection. “The army is capable of fighting. All marches were completed, no personnel or equipment were lost along the way,” State Secretary of the Security Council Aleksandr Volfovich said.
The head of state visited the battalion’s command observation post in the assembly area, where he spoke with military personnel and observed the inspection activities. Among other things, the discussion touched on how the soldiers’ living conditions are arranged.
The president emphasized the importance of conducting such inspections to maintain a high level of troop training. “Everyone is being tested. Even the defense minister and the state secretary,” noted Aleksandr Lukashenko. “This winter, we’ll put everyone to the test.”
“I’m not saying it will happen tomorrow. But I can’t say it won’t happen at all,” the Belarusian leader stated, speaking about the need to be prepared for any course of events.
The head of state also visited a dugout where personnel are housed. The conditions, while spartan in a military sense, are more than acceptable for wartime. “This is a resort for you,” Aleksandr Lukashenko observed, recalling that during his own service years, he had to endure far harsher conditions.
The president stressed that soldiers must be provided with everything necessary to carry out their missions.
“Learn, keep learning. Learn just in case. If you know how to do everything, you’ll stay alive,” the head of state told the servicemen.
As BelTA previously reported, a large-scale inspection of the Armed Forces, ordered by the president of Belarus, began on 16 January. The primary goal is to obtain an objective picture, assess the actual state of the troops, and evaluate the actions of military personnel. This is precisely why the measures are sudden in nature. A key feature of the inspection is its organization. The head of state is putting military units on combat alert, bypassing the Defense Ministry and the General Staff.
The president signs a directive classified as “secret”, which outlines the concept of the upcoming inspection. State Secretary of the Security Council Aleksandr Volfovich receives a sealed package containing the document, after which he travels to the military unit designated by the head of state. By order of the Belarusian leader, Chairman of the State Control Committee Vasily Gerasimov is also involved in conducting the inspection.
Aleksandr Lukashenko maintains personal oversight of the inspection’s progress and regularly receives reports from the state secretary of the Security Council.
At a meeting on 3 February, the head of state explained the system underpinning the inspection as follows: “I trust everyone. But this is a snap inspection conducted by the commander-in-chief. And I want to see how the General Staff and the Defense Ministry will act during this snap inspection.”
The first unit to be inspected was a technical support military unit, one of the largest in the Armed Forces, which stores various models of armored weaponry and military equipment. Among the military units subjected to inspection are the 19th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade, the 72nd Guards Joint Training Center, the 38th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade, the 103rd Vitebsk Airborne Brigade, the 120th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade, and the 11th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade.
The inspection takes into account combat experience gained in modern military conflicts. Its results will serve as the basis for further improvement of the Belarusian army.