Фото: Ян Горбанюк, «Ваяр»
On July 22, Aliaksandr Lukashenka received a report from Belarusian Defence Minister Viktar Khrenin. Khrenin briefed him on the situation developing around Belarus and on assistance provided to the agricultural sector during the harvest campaign.
Khrenin described the military-political situation as calm. According to him, tensions are largely confined to the information space. The Defence Ministry has not observed significant activity by the armed forces of NATO member states, Lukashenka’s press service reported.
The Defence Ministry has not detected any signs of preparations for aggressive actions by Ukraine along the southern border. Belarus has deployed a minimum number of special operations forces units in the border area, where they are operating in coordination with border guards.
“Monitoring the activities of the armed forces of NATO member states, we do not see any significant activity. A minimal number of exercises is taking place in neighbouring countries — only one, along with a minimal number of flights. Therefore, we consider the situation stable, and we do not see any threat, tension, or preparations for a surprise attack.”, Khrenin said after the briefing.
Khrenin noted that personnel training is being carried out according to schedule, taking into account the findings of a comprehensive inspection conducted earlier this year.
The defence minister also reported on assistance being provided by the military to agricultural organisations during the harvest campaign in different regions.
“I reported on how the head of state’s instruction will be implemented. Military commissars will now join this work. In the near future, they will hold joint meetings with the heads of local authorities to determine the sequence of actions. Then, as the president said, they will leave their offices and go to the fields, visit agricultural enterprises, organise coordination with them, and provide assistance and support.”, Khrenin said.
The meeting also discussed Lukashenka’s instruction to send to the army everyone who does not want to work during the harvest campaign. Khrenin reported that military commissars had been tasked with implementing the instruction.