Belarusian troops hold surprise drill near Ukraine’s border

June 21, Pozirk. The Belarusian defense ministry has launched a surprise drill at 9 a.m., following yesterday’s reports of Ukrainian military build-up at the shared border.

It involves operational command, special operations, missile and artillery and air/air defense forces, the ministry said. Activities take place at firing ranges and open terrain in the Brest and Homiel regions that border Ukraine.

Pavieł Muraviejka, General Staff chief and deputy defense minister, said it will be a comprehensive exercise to assess troops’ performance in a rapidly changing situation.

Special operations units have been ordered to move to designated areas to dig trenches, fortify positions and train in “searching for, destroying and blocking mock enemy’s sabotage and reconnaissance groups,” operating checkpoints and “moving into the designated positions,” he said.

Anti-aircraft missile units are moving into “new position areas” to set up “a system to defend important facilities in endangered areas,” he added.

Missile troops and artillery units equipped with Polonez and BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers will occupy designated areas and be on stand-by, the general said.

Aircraft will be involved to drop off airborne assault units that will support ground operations and protect key air defense facilities.

Belarus holds regular drills amid tension with the West over Russia’s war against Ukraine, in which Minsk supports the Kremlin.

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