The Ministry of Defence has announced the start of a comprehensive exercise involving troops of the Western Operational Command. It is being led by First Deputy Minister of Defence — Chief of the General Staff Pavel Muraveika. The exercise is taking place from March 19 to 25 as part of a comprehensive combat readiness inspection.
“The exercise is one of the main phases of the comprehensive inspection and is purely defensive in nature. Its concept is based on the most current military-political situation, as well as advances in military art in the development of means of armed struggle and trends in conducting modern combat operations within contemporary military conflicts,” Muraveika said.
The exercise is being conducted at training grounds and locations in the Brest and Minsk regions that are “as close as possible to the country’s terrain.” He stressed that the exercise areas are located “at a significant distance from the state border,” and therefore any statements about preparations for an attack on another country that may come from neighbouring states are unfounded insinuations.
Military personnel will practise preparing defensive lines and positions based on resistance nodes and barrier sections. It is also planned to make maximum use of local industrial and administrative resources.
“It is planned to practise the most modern methods of employing troops and strike capabilities: unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare and information confrontation systems, counter-battery operations, and long-range firing. It is not ruled out that during the active phase of the exercise, active operations of mechanised and tank units will be practised to counter illegal armed formations, enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups, as well as to repel possible attacks and conduct active manoeuvre,” the Chief of the General Staff added.
The results of the exercise will form the basis for further training of the Armed Forces. Muraveika said that the units involved have already taken up their designated positions, equipped them, and are preparing to repel attacks.
“Checks of the combat and mobilisation readiness of the Armed Forces have already become a tradition in our army. We conduct them regularly on a constant basis; this is not anything extraordinary and is not directed against any of our neighbouring countries.
Despite the fact that we are currently actively engaged in preparing and conducting the exercise and a snap inspection, we are closely monitoring military activity near our borders. This includes troop manoeuvres and a range of operational and combat training activities taking place in Poland and the Baltic states. We maintain a certain heightened vigilance and will not allow any provocations against our country, regardless of where they originate,” Muraveika said.
