Alexander Lukashenko personally checked the combat readiness of the Armed Forces
The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, personally checked the combat readiness of the Armed Forces. The head of state visited the 227th general military training ground in the Borisov district as part of a surprise inspection, reports a BELTA correspondent.
Upon arrival, the head of state listened to a report on the progress of the combat readiness inspection of units and military formations, conducted according to the plan of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff. Details were provided by Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, who was only informed at 7 a.m. about the unexpected arrival of the President. This inspection is currently being conducted in parallel, without duplicating the tasks set within the framework of the surprise inspection along the lines of the President and the State Secretariat of the Security Council.
In particular, the minister reported that the 6th separate guards mechanized brigade, stationed in Grodno, has been brought to a heightened state of combat readiness. The brigade has never been inspected in such a capacity before. "The brigade will be fully mobilized to wartime staffing levels. At the moment, reserve military personnel have been called up to the reserve regiment of the Western Operational Command," said the head of the military department. "According to the new methodology, based on the experience and problematic issues we identified during the inspections of the 19th and 11th brigades, we saw that there is a need for a proactive call-up of reserve officers and conducting classes with them."
Last week, such a proactive call-up of reserve officers was carried out, totaling 400 people.
"Did you call everyone or did you not find someone?" - clarified Alexander Lukashenko.
"Everyone - 100%. By the way, it is noted that people are now very eager. There were fewer who wanted to slip away or find some reason. There were no appeals at all," noted Viktor Khrenin.
Regarding this, Alexander Lukashenko concluded: "That is, people take the call seriously. Well, finally, they understood that this is training: and if there is a war - and we do not know how to do anything."
Alexander Lukashenko also inquired about the preliminary results and impressions from the first stage of the surprise combat readiness inspection, which is being conducted at his request. "The army is capable of fighting. In general, all brigade commanders who received your orders clearly understood the task, made decisions about marching to the designated areas. All marches were completed, and no one was lost during the march," reported the State Secretary of the Security Council, Alexander Wolfovich.
According to him, there were isolated cases of malfunctions. However, the vehicles on the march were repaired with their own resources, without involving central command units. "With a delay of one to one and a half hours, two or three vehicles arrived in the area. This did not affect the performance of the combat task of any particular military unit as a whole. There are questions regarding march discipline and some calculations. But these are training issues that we will analyze and conduct a detailed review," noted the Secretary of the Security Council.
The head of state visited the command observation point of the battalion in the concentration area, where he communicated with the military personnel and familiarized himself with the implementation of the inspection activities. This included discussions on how the soldiers' living conditions are arranged.
The President emphasized the importance of conducting such inspections to maintain a high level of troop training. "Everyone undergoes inspection. Even the Minister of Defense and the State Secretary. There are people who also observe them and report to me," noted Alexander Lukashenko. "Now the winter is such that we will subject everyone to inspection."
"Guys, you must learn your craft. Absolutely. Those who are unprepared are dead men. No one will ask us when and how to fight. On the contrary, they will look for opportunities to attack us unexpectedly. I am not saying that this will happen tomorrow. But I cannot say that it will not happen at all. Therefore, we are preparing," remarked the Belarusian leader, speaking about the necessity of being ready for any developments of events.
The head of state also visited the dugout where the personnel are stationed. The conditions, although field-like, are more than acceptable in case of wartime. "You have a resort here," remarked Alexander Lukashenko, recalling how during his service he had to "fight" in exercises and in harsher conditions.
During the visit to the training ground, issues of equipping military units with modern technology and approaches to solving personnel issues were also discussed. The President emphasized that soldiers must be provided with everything necessary to fulfill their tasks.
"Learn, learn. Just in case, learn. If you can do everything - you will live," encouraged the head of state to the military personnel.
The President visited the shooting range at the training ground, where training shootings were conducted with grenade launchers and automatic weapons. It was also planned to conduct training shootings with the armament of armored personnel carriers; however, thick fog made adjustments. But even in wartime, it would be impractical to use this equipment under these conditions, as the targets are not visible.
"Then we need to wait. Wait, proceed according to the plan. What are we going to shoot into the white light..." - said the head of state.
Summarizing, Alexander Lukashenko noted that he wanted to see firsthand how prepared the troops are for combat operations.
"Well, there is little joy, let's speak frankly. They shoot, they see the targets. Let's consider it so-so," said the head of state. "They are nervous, of course - the President is standing behind their back. I understand that there is a certain anxiety. Well, so it is - somewhere they hit, somewhere they missed."
It is important to note that the shootings involved not a specially selected team, but military personnel in order of the list and regardless of the length of service and experience.
"Let them work further. We will see how to complicate your life. We will complicate your life now. So do not relax. Well, with the commanders, of course, we will skin them like men," added the President, addressing the Defense Minister.
As reported by BELTA, a large-scale inspection of the Armed Forces at the request of the President of Belarus began on January 16. The primary goal is to see an objective picture, the real state of the troops, and to assess the actions of the military personnel. That is why the events have a surprise nature. A key feature of the inspection is its organization. The head of state brings military units to combat readiness, bypassing the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff.
The President signs an order marked "secret," which outlines the plan for the upcoming inspection. The State Secretary of the Security Council, Alexander Wolfovich, receives a closed package with the document, after which he travels to the military unit designated by the head of state. At the request of the Belarusian leader, the Chairman of the State Control Committee, Vasily Gerasimov, was also involved in the inspection.
Alexander Lukashenko keeps the progress of the inspection under personal control, regularly listening to reports from the State Secretary of the Security Council.
The head of state explained the system by which the inspection is structured at a meeting on February 3 as follows: "I trust everyone. But this is a surprise inspection conducted by the Commander-in-Chief. And I want to see how the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense will act in this surprise inspection."
The first military unit inspected was the technical support unit - one of the largest military units of the Armed Forces, where various samples of armored and military equipment are stored. Among the military units that underwent inspection are the 19th separate guards mechanized brigade, the 72nd guards combined training center, the 38th separate guards airborne assault brigade, the 103rd Vitebsk airborne brigade, the 120th separate guards mechanized brigade, and the 11th separate guards mechanized brigade.
When conducting the inspection, the experience of conducting combat operations in modern military conflicts is taken into account. Its results will be the basis for improving the Belarusian army.
Source belta.by