Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus

The Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus were formed on the basis of the Belarusian Military District of the Armed Forces of the USSR after the declaration of state independence , for which September 20, 1991 a resolution of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus “On the Creation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus” was adopted ^[5] . On November 3, 1992, the Law on the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus was adopted ^[6] .

In 1992 - 1996, 250 military units were reduced or reorganized. At this time, the nuclear missile demilitarization of Belarus was completed ^[7] .

Since the beginning of the 2000s, the armed forces have been operating and developing in accordance with the National Security Concept (approved by decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 390 of July 17, 2001), the Military Doctrine of the Republic of Belarus (approved by the Law of the Republic of Belarus on January 3, 2002) and the Concept for the Construction of the Armed Forces until 2010.

In 2001, the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Belarus were combined into a single type of troops ^[8] .

In November 2004, two Belarussian Su-25s mistakenly attacked the French peacekeepers in Bouake , which entailed a deterioration in relations between Côte d'Ivoire and France .

On May 11, 2006, President of Belarus A. Lukashenko signed Decree No. 312 “On Certain Measures to Improve the Transport Support of the Armed Forces, Other Troops and Military Units of the Republic of Belarus”, according to which transport troops of Belarus were created on the basis of railway , automobile and road troops .

On August 2, 2007 , Special Operations Forces were created on the basis of the Airborne Forces and GRU special forces .

In the period from 2008 ^[9] to 2013 ^[10] , a group of Belarusian military advisers and specialists were located in Venezuela , who participated in the creation of a single air defense and electronic warfare system for the Venezuelan army.

In 2009 , a new military uniform was approved ^[7] .

On August 2, 2010 A. Lukashenko signed a decree on sending a group of 9 Belarusian troops to Lebanon to participate in the peacekeeping operation ^[11] . In 2011, the first peacekeepers from Belarus arrived in the Lebanese Republic. Despite the declared contingent size of nine people, a group of only five peacekeepers was sent to the country.

In 2011, Belarusian military advisers supported the government of Muammar Gaddafi in the civil war in Libya . Thanks to them, the government army in the first months of the conflict was able to more successfully confront NATO and the rebels, increase the mobility of troops and go on the offensive. the military were engaged in the operation, repair, and modernization of military equipment, and were instructors and snipers ^{[12] [13] [14]} .

Currently, the Armed Forces are two types of aircraft - the Ground Forces , the Air Force and the Air Defense Forces . Also directly to the General Staff is the subordinate branch of the armed forces - Special Operations Forces (MTR). There are also special troops (services), rear services.

The strength of the Armed Forces as of March 1, 2016 is 64,932 posts . Of these, 14 502 officers , 6850 warrant officers , 25 671 soldiers and sergeants , 3502 cadets , as well as 16 407 civilian personnel.

Peacetime combat personnel - three air bases , two radio engineering and four anti-aircraft missile brigades , three anti-aircraft missile regiments, four mechanized brigades, one missile, one reactive artillery and three artillery brigades, one air assault brigade, and one airborne brigade and one special-purpose brigade ^[15] .

The Armed Forces actively participate in various exercises, both domestically ( Neman - 2001 , Berezina-2002 , Clear Skies-2003 , Union Shield-2006 , West-2009 , West-2013, “Shield of the Union - 2015”, “Slavic Brotherhood - 2017”), and beyond (“Combat Commonwealth”).

Ground forces are directly controlled by the Ministry of Defense and are organizationally divided into two operational commands: Western (based on the 28th combined arms army ^[16] ) and Northwest (based on the 7th tank army ^[17] ).

Since June 1, 1993, the 28th Army Corps (28 AK) became the successor to the 28th Red Banner Army , and from December 17, 2002 - the Western Operational Command.

For 2011, it included:

• control
• two mechanized brigades (6th, 11th,)
• 111th Guards Artillery Brigade
• other parts and units.

The composition of the North-West Command as a whole is similar to the above, with the only difference being that it includes only one mechanized brigade (120th Guards).

Ground forces include mechanized formations, missile forces and artillery, air defense forces of the ground forces, communications units, units and establishments of rear and technical support. Each military branch in its composition has units and subunits of reduced composition, a base for storing weapons and equipment.

The Belarusian armed forces have a large armored group. As of March 2016, there were 602 tanks , 886 infantry fighting vehicles and 192 armored personnel carriers in the troops ^[15] .

A view of the Armed Forces intended for covering administrative, military, economic centers of the Republic of Belarus, groups of its troops from enemy air strikes, as well as for hitting enemy targets and troops and ensuring combat operations of the Ground Forces. The following types of troops are composed:

• air Force
• anti-aircraft missile troops
• radio troops
• special forces and services

The military branch is directly subordinate to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus, the abbreviated name is MTR Armed Forces of Belarus.

The main tasks of the MTR are counter-sabotage activities, reconnaissance, the fight against illegal armed groups, the implementation of various tasks by special methods in order to end the armed conflict against Belarus. They are one of the main elements of strategic deterrence.

Officers for special operations forces are trained by the military intelligence department of the Military Academy of the Republic of Belarus . Students are trained in the following specialties: management of MTR units and telecommunication systems. Field and practical exercises with the use of weapons and military equipment are held at the field training and material base of the Belaya Luzha training ground and military units of special operations forces.

On May 11, 2006, President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed into action Decree No. 312 “On Certain Measures to Improve Transport Support for the Armed Forces, Other Troops, and Military Units of the Republic of Belarus”. The document was adopted in order to create a unified system of transport support for the Armed Forces, other troops and military formations of Belarus.

According to the Decree, the transport troops of Belarus were created on the basis of the existing railway , automobile and road troops , which are special troops and are intended for the transport support of military formations of Belarus. Accordingly, on the basis of the Department of Railway Troops and the structural unit of the Ministry of Defense, which is responsible for military communications, automobile and road forces, a military command agency of the transport troops was created - the Department of Transport Support of the Ministry of Defense.

The provisions approved by the Decree define the tasks and organizational foundations of the activities of transport troops, the tasks and functions of the Department of Transport Support of the Ministry of Defense. In particular, the transport troops are entrusted with tasks such as technical cover, restoration, increased survivability and throughput of railways and highways in the areas of warfare, and the provision of military transport by rail, road and air. The main tasks of the Department of Transport Support are command and control of transport troops, their constant combat and mobilization readiness, organization of transport support of the Armed Forces and other military units. It is envisaged that on the technical cover of railways and roads, this Department coordinates the activities of organizations of railway and road transport ( Belarusian Railway, etc.).

General management of the transport troops is carried out by the Minister of Defense , and direct control is carried out by the head of the Department of Transport Support, appointed by the President of the Republic of Belarus.

In the context of the ongoing reduction in the number of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and a decrease in the level of armaments, one of the most economical ways of compensating for forces and means, maintaining the state’s defense capability at the proper level is the organization of the state’s territorial defense.

To solve the tasks of territorial defense, territorial troops (TerV) are created, which will be a backup component of the Armed Forces and will be deployed during the threatened period or with the outbreak of war.

The number of troops of the territorial defense of the Republic of Belarus is 120 thousand people, which is twice as much as serving in the regular armed forces of the Republic of Belarus. TerV units are manned from residents of the respective administrative-territorial units fit for military service. Territorial Defense Forces include military units in the form of separate infantry battalions and separate infantry companies.

Tasks of territorial defense:

• participation in the defense of the border territory;
• maintaining martial law;
• security and defense of state and military facilities;
• the fight against sabotage and reconnaissance groups and illegal armed groups ;
• engineering measures to prepare cities and towns for defense and equipment of defensive lines;
• the elimination of the consequences of the use of weapons of mass destruction, the results of massive strikes, rescue and emergency recovery operations;
• conducting active armed struggle in the territory temporarily captured by the enemy ^{[18] [19] [20] [21]} .

• Reserved or retired officers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus voluntarily participate in the activities of the military-scientific society .
• Belarus is characterized by the annual involvement of military personnel in civilian occupations, for example, for harvesting ^[22] .

• Military Duty in Belarus
• Alternative service in Belarus
• Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus
• Military ranks in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus

• The official page of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus.
• The army of Belarus. Information and analytical portal.
• Belarus plans to purchase 18 Su-30K fighters.
• Photos of Belarusian aircraft at the base in Machulishchi. Preparing for the parade on May 9, 2005.
• Photos from the air festival in Baranavichy dedicated to the 55th anniversary of the 61st fighter aviation base with the participation of the Russian Knights aerobatic team.
• Belarus has completed the creation of its own school of military pilots.
• In 2006, 2.4 times more funds will be allocated for combat training of the Belarusian army.
• Exercise "Shield of the Union 2006".
• Why the Belarusian army will not attack other countries Ostro.by