Belarusian army to focus on combat readiness training in 2021

30.10.2020

The next academic year of Belarus' Armed Forces has been declared a year of combat readiness, BelTA learned from Belarusian Defense Minister, Major-General Viktor Khrenin on 29 October.

The official said that the year has been complicated yet rather productive. Combat training remained intensive despite objectively complicated conditions. “We promptly changed forms and methods of organization of all scheduled events taking into account the conditions our Armed Forces had to deal with this year,” Viktor Khrenin said.

The defense minister was pleased with the excellent organization of military exercises, including those held together with the Russian army and within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Viktor Khrenin also talked about accomplishments of Belarusian military personnel. “This year our pilots have managed to master cutting-edge aircraft Su-30SM within a short period of time. Results of the International Army Games also testify to the high professionalism of Belarusian military personnel. It is the first time our team has been ranked second. We participated in 22 events out of 30 and secured 20 awards. On the whole, the multitude of operational and combat training events that have been held during this academic year indicates that Belarus' Armed Forces – command and control bodies and troops – have improved their training levels.”

According to Viktor Khrenin, the next year will be as intensive. The number of events to be held together with the Russian army has increased from 120 to 160. The Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2021 that will be held in Belarus will be the key event of the next academic year, the Belarusian defense minister said.