Belarusian, Russian pilots practice air patrol and protection

May 5, BPN. Belarusian and Russian pilots are flying air patrol missions as part of a combat readiness check, the defense ministry in Minsk has said.

Interoperability is effective because pilots fly similar aircraft, use similar weapons and have similar skills, Chief of Aviation Leanid Davidovič said. According to him, pilots are also flying missions to protect aircraft.

Previously, the defense ministry said a stage of the combat readiness check in May would involve units stationed in the Brest, Hrodna and Minsk regions. It would involve air/air defense units, special operations forces, operational commands, missile and artillery troops, as well as supply units, it announced.

In addition, the ministry planned to call up some 1,000 draft-age Belarusians for active duty as part of a volunteer corps to enforce martial law.