The Belarusian Armed Forces plan to boost reconnaissance to better oversee neighboring territories and airspace amid NATO Defender exercises. This stance was articulated by Viktor Gulevich, the Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Minister of Defense, as reported by the state TV channel Belarus 1. The message was framed to emphasize heightened situational awareness during the drills and to reassure that Belarus remains actively engaged in monitoring developments along its borders.
Gulevich stated that the reconnaissance capabilities would be strengthened during the training period. He underscored that the exercise scope is substantial, with a large group of troops involved and extensive operational depth planned over its course.
According to the deputy minister, the exercise footprint is broad, and the participants number in the tens of thousands. He noted that the armed forces will rely on aircraft to observe and analyze conditions on the ground and in the sky, providing real-time assessments of movements and activities within Belarusian air and land space.
The Chief of the General Staff added that the ongoing movement of defense equipment is continuing and that logistics arrangements are being refined to support transfers to training sites and the assembly of force groupings. These steps are described as part of comprehensive prep work to ensure readiness and seamless operation across rehearsal zones.
At the end of December, Alexander Volfovich, the Secretary of Belarus’ Security Council and a lieutenant general, commented on NATO activities, noting a sharp rise in the number of exercises in the past two years and a significant increase in participation. His remarks highlighted a perceived acceleration in allied training and its implications for regional security dynamics.
Earlier reports from the Belarusian Ministry of Defense had indicated the initiation of mobilization-preparation exercises, signaling a broader approach to readiness and the alignment of strategic reserves with potential deployment requirements. The ongoing communications from Belarus’ defense leadership stress vigilance and coordinated planning in response to shifting security circumstances in the region.