Фото: пресс-служба Лукашенко
Alyaksandr Lukashenka at a meeting on socio-economic development of Vitsyebsk Region on Tuesday sought to justify why an inspection of the Armed Forces had been initiated by him outside the Defense Ministry.
Judging by his remarks, the explanation was prompted by statements from Lukashenka’s opponents claiming that he does not trust the defense minister or the General Staff.
“Ah, he does not trust the defense minister, he does not trust the General Staff. 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 act during this snap inspection,” he said.
According to him, a classified order was issued to carry out the inspection, outlining its concept. State Secretary of the Security Council Alyaksandr Valfovich went to the selected military unit with a package of documents. The head of the State Control Committee, Vasiliy Herasimau, was also involved in the inspection.
“That is why it was done outside the General Staff and the defense minister. But the defense minister was immediately informed of the substance of my order.
What did I do wrong? And if there is a war? What will we do? I must be convinced that our military are not eating their bread for nothing,” he said.
Lukashenka noted that preliminary results of the inspection “seem not bad.”
“Less than one percent of equipment broke down. Tolerable. Although even that should not happen,” he said.
According to him, an important stage was a five-kilometer forced march, which the servicemen completed successfully, although it was not carried out with full gear. Lukashenka recalled that when he served in the border troops, forced marches were conducted over 15 kilometers and with full equipment. He stressed that physical training is very important.
“If he runs well and can shoot, he will live. Elementary. That is why I conducted this inspection. They ran, ‘died,’ carried on their shoulders… They shot at night, shot during the day. It was cold. So what? Will someone wait until it gets warm? This is war. Officers showed themselves better than soldiers. This is according to preliminary data,” he said.
Lukashenka also drew attention to the fact that the Defense Ministry is conducting its own inspection under a separate program.
“They have their own snap inspection program, it is under way now. I am observing. The defense minister arrived unexpectedly and is mobilizing them,” he said.