MINSK, Dec 11 Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces, First Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Gulevich said that the deployment of the Belarusian-Russian regional group of troops on Belarusian territory is an element of strategic containment of opponents and contributes to the security of the republic.
«Russia is our main ally. And we are holding joint events, because the deployment of the group on our territory is … a fact of our strategic deterrence,» Gulevich said in an interview with the STV channel on Sunday.
He noted that the forces of the Belarusian -of the Russian regional grouping of troops «are placed at the training grounds (in Belarus — ed.) compactly, preparations are being carried out.»
«We participate in these events, and (this) benefits our armed forces, we can adopt advanced tactics, methods of performing tasks, especially characteristic of modern conflicts. And the presence of our ally contributes to the security of our country,» Gulevich stated.< br>
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on October 10 that he had agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the involvement of a regional group of troops in connection with the aggravation of the situation on the western borders of the Union State. The Belarusian Defense Ministry clarified that the total number of Russian military personnel in the joint regional grouping of troops in Belarus is planned at a little less than 9,000. Russian military personnel began to arrive in Belarus, including the aviation component of the regional grouping of troops. Also, about 170 tanks, up to 200 armored combat vehicles and up to 100 guns and mortars with a caliber of more than 100 mm are planned to arrive in Belarus as part of the deployed Belarusian-Russian group of troops from the Russian Federation.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported that Russia and Belarus since October 22 have been conducting combat coordination of formations and units of the regional grouping of troops on Belarusian territory.