Belarusian special forces officers have returned from the UAE SWAT Challenge 2026, which took place in the United Arab Emirates.
As reported by the Interior Ministry’s press service, the SPBT “Almaz” team was welcomed upon return by Interior Minister Ivan Kubrakou.
“I am glad to welcome you back on your native land. Well done! You represented our ministry with dignity. You performed well. There is always something to strive for, and that is normal. ‘Almaz’ has a special trait: you never stop at what you have achieved,” he said.
Kubrakou also emphasized the importance of the experience gained at the competition and wished the officers to keep moving forward.
The Interior Ministry’s statement did not specify the result of the Belarusian team. According to the competition’s official website, “Almaz” placed 24th overall. The unit’s team was the only representative from Belarus. A total of 109 teams took part in the competition this year. First and second place were taken by teams from Kazakhstan, while third place went to a team from China.
For comparison, Belarus was represented by three teams last year. At that time, “Almaz” finished 19th, the SOBR team placed 33rd, and the Minsk OMON team placed 54th.