In the training and combat center of joint training in the Nizhny Novgorod region, classes were completed at the first unit of the Belarusian army, which was trained here, RT was told in the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry.
Work with the military formation took place at the Mulino training ground, in a center created by decision of the defense ministers of the two states - Sergei Shoigu and Viktor Khrenin.
“The personnel of the tank unit of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus were trained at the modern material and technical base of the center for a month.
Each serviceman passed the tests and completed a training course in his military specialty, ”the ministry said.
The servicemen of the Republic of Belarus arrived in the Nizhny Novgorod region at the end of March 2022 and were placed in the autonomous field camp APL-500, which is also deployed in Mulino.
"The whole range of work"
At the final stage of preparation, a company tactical exercise with live firing was organized, during which the Russian and Belarusian troops worked out the tasks of engaging the advancing enemy by fire.
The maneuvers were attended by Belarusian crews of T-72B3 tanks (provided by the RF Armed Forces) and Russian motorized infantry in armored vehicles.
The actions of the ground group were supported by artillery and reconnaissance and attack helicopters Mi-24 of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Air defense was provided by the Russian calculation of the modernized Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.
Major General Alexander Peryazev, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of Combat Training of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and Deputy Minister of Defense of Belarus, Major General Andrei Zhuk, observed the company tactical exercises.
In an interview with journalists, Peryazev said that during the training in Mulino, Belarusian tankers improved their skills in firing, reconnaissance, analyzing the situation in the theater of operations and making decisions on command and control of troops and attached forces.
“The main emphasis was placed on the ability of a company commander, a battalion commander to manage not only a regular unit, but also attached units: a motorized rifle platoon, an artillery battery and army aviation.
That is, the whole range of work for the commander of a tank battalion, which is now necessary in combined arms combat, ”said the deputy head of the Main Directorate of Combat Training of the RF Armed Forces.
He assessed the degree of mutual understanding between Russian and Belarusian servicemen as "absolute" due to a similar educational and material and technical base.
“The guys (Belarusian military personnel. -
RT
) strive to learn, to master what they are taught.
The level of their training has increased significantly.
And, of course, our servicemen, who worked together and indicated the actions of the enemy, understood that this was a serious responsibility, ”said Peryazev.
Russian and Belarusian officers at the exercise observation point
RT
In turn, Andriy Zhuk, in a conversation with journalists, explained that the training of the military personnel of the Republic was of a complex nature.
According to the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Belarus, all the necessary conditions have been created in Mulino to improve the level of individual skills of servicemen and work out tasks for combat coordination.
“The uniqueness of this center lies in the fact that the training was carried out not in individual specialties and not individual military personnel, but precisely as part of a whole unit.
Improving individual training and up to the coordination of units, ”said the deputy head of the Belarusian defense department.
Senior Lieutenant Andrey Vasilevich, deputy commander of the tank battalion of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, told reporters that the emphasis during the training was on improving the coherence of platoons and companies in conditions close to a real armed conflict.
“During this period, we have learned a lot of experience from the officers of the Russian Federation who took part in the hostilities.
We got acquainted with the latest military equipment and weapons, which will soon arrive in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, ”said Vasilevich.
According to the serviceman, the most valuable skill that the graduates of the combat training center in the Nizhny Novgorod region received was the ability of the commanders of the tank troops to interact with other army formations.
“Here, the emphasis is more on the interaction of various types and types of troops ... For me, I am proud to be among the first to be trained in a joint combat training center.
It is important that the armed forces of our countries understand each other and can act shoulder to shoulder, ”Vasilevich stressed.
"Closest Ally"
In a conversation with the media, Peryazev recalled that a total of three centers for joint combat training of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus would be formed.
In addition to the Nizhny Novgorod region, new training sites will appear in the Kaliningrad region and near Grodno.
An agreement on the establishment of these centers was reached in early March 2021 following a meeting between Shoigu and Khrenin in Moscow, at which the implementation of the activities of the strategic partnership program of the Armed Forces of the two countries for 2021-2025 was discussed.
Officer of the tank unit of the Armed Forces of Belarus at the Mulino training ground
RT
By decision of the defense ministers of the two countries, Belarusian crews of BTR-82A armored personnel carriers and divers will be trained in the Kaliningrad region, and Air Force and Air Defense units of the two countries will be trained in the Grodno region in order to strengthen the Unified Regional Air Defense System of the Union State.
Later, at a meeting of the leaders of the government and the power bloc, President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko noted that Belarusian military personnel need to adopt advanced methods of warfare and master the latest weapons along with their Russian counterparts.
According to Lukashenka, Vladimir Putin supported his initiative “with enthusiasm” during the talks held on February 22, 2021.
Dmitry Litovkin, editor of the newspaper Nezavisimoe Voennoye Obozreniye, believes that the significantly increased activity of NATO troops has become a catalyst for deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Minsk.
In a RT commentary, he noted that the deployment of three joint combat training centers would increase the coherence of the Russian-Belarusian groups and increase the overall potential of the army of the Republic of Belarus.
“Belarus is the closest military ally of Russia.
It is to our advantage to strengthen his army.
In addition, our military has something to teach Belarusian colleagues.
In turn, Belarus is interested in relying on the military infrastructure of the Russian Federation, increasing mutual understanding at the level of headquarters and decision-making centers, ”Litovkin explained.
A similar point of view is shared by Vyacheslav Sutyrin, vice-rector for international relations of the State Academic University for the Humanities, editor-in-chief of the Eurasia.Expert publication.
In an interview with RT, he said that the leaders of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus are clearly aware of the need to create a single defense space in the face of growing threats from NATO.
“Combat training centers are another step in the development of military cooperation between Moscow and Minsk.
The authorities of the two states understand the need to jointly solve a whole range of tasks in the western direction.
Our interaction is becoming deeper, more systematic and applied,” said Sutyrin.
Servicemen of the tank unit of the Armed Forces of Belarus at the Mulino training ground
RT
The expert recalled that in all the years of independence, Belarus has not taken part in any armed conflict.
At the same time, the Russian army performed combat missions both on its territory and abroad, having accumulated an impressive amount of practical knowledge.
“It is important for Belarusians to learn from the experience of the Russian military, from the level of a soldier to a general.
Moreover, Russia let a lot of servicemen and commanders through the successful Syrian campaign.
Now the Russian Armed Forces are performing combat missions in Ukraine, and this experience will also definitely be in demand in the Belarusian army, ”added Sutyrin.