Joint Tactical Flight Exercises Between Belarus and Russia Planned on Belarusian Territory
The press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Defense announced plans for a joint tactical flight exercise conducted by the armed forces of Belarus and Russia on Belarusian soil. The aim of the exercise is to raise the combat readiness of aviation units within the Belarusian and Russian military structures that form part of the aviation segment of the regional alliance.
The exercise will involve air units from the Belarusian armed forces and from the Russian Federation, with participation in the air component. Belarusian officials noted that Russian forces continue to arrive at training sites, and that efforts will include combat coordination activities with these units.
Officials also stated that a regional power group formation is being maintained as part of ensuring the security of the Union State. The process is said to be advancing in stages in response to evolving situational assessments along the borders.
Additionally, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus recalled that a joint grouping was created to strengthen security and defense for the Union State, based on current conditions near the state borders. The preparation of this grouping is described as complex and requiring support systems across multiple domains.
Valery Revenko, head of the international military cooperation department at the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, commented on social media that the regional unity group exercises are not aimed at any third country. He indicated that the air component would be enhanced to carry out the planned tactical flight activities.
NATO Response
On December 22, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, referred to the regional deployment of Russian-Belarusian troops as a response to what she described as a build-up of NATO forces in Poland and the Baltic states. She characterized the deployments since October as a symmetrical response to the shifting regional security situation.
Earlier, in October 2022, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on using a regional troop group in light of tensions at the western borders of the Union State. The Belarusian Ministry of Defense subsequently noted that the group would include a substantial number of Russian personnel, along with a relevant set of vehicles and weapons.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported ongoing combat coordination between the formations of the joint troop group since October 22. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin also indicated that, if necessary, large-scale mobilization could be considered within the Belarusian armed forces, and there was mention of advanced air defense systems and associated platforms arriving in Belarus. By mid-December, statements indicated that certain air defense and long-range strike systems were on combat duty in Belarus according to official channels.
According to Khrenin, while there were no evident signs of aggression from Western states, there was acknowledgment of a potential temporary intervention by troops stationed near Belarusian borders. He cited an increase in the presence of American and NATO forces in the Eastern European region as a factor in such considerations.
Speculation About a Special Operation
Following the announcement of the regional troop group, speculation arose regarding Belarusian participation in the Russian special operation in Ukraine. Reports suggested a high-level visit to Minsk by Vladimir Putin around December 19 for coordination on this matter. German officials expressed concern about potential shifts in Belarusian policy, while Moscow denied these claims. A Kremlin spokesperson dismissed such fabrications as unfounded.
During a December 19 meeting between Putin and Lukashenko, discussions centered on military cooperation, though details about Belarusian involvement in broader operations were not disclosed. Energy cooperation was identified as a key topic of the leaders’ discussions.