Lukashenko keeps close watch on Armed Forces inspection

The 19th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade was initiated on 23 January as part of the large-scale combat readiness inspection of the Armed Forces of Belarus.

“The commander-in-chief maintains daily personal oversight of the progress of this inspection, receives reports from the state secretary on its specifics and on how the personnel handles the assigned tasks, and gives appropriate instructions,” State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aleksandr Volfovich told journalists.

“The president maintains the tightest oversight of this inspection, as the current global military and political climate and everything unfolding in the world today imposes unique requirements on the combat readiness of military units and formations. On their constant readiness and ability to perform the relevant tasks to defend Belarus,” the state secretary emphasized. “The president is practically tracking the inspection in real-time. Any member of the commission has the right to contact the president directly, and they have been granted this authority. So far, there has been no need for that. For now, only I, as the state secretary, report daily on the progress of this inspection.”

Aleksandr Volfovich stated that the pace and scope of the inspection would be increased. “There are still many operational and tactical exercises ahead,” he said.

The state secretary also highlighted the specifics of the current inspection. A new system has been developed, whereby the president directly puts military units on combat alert, bypassing the Ministry of Defense. The primary goal of the inspection is to obtain an objective picture and assess the real state of the troops, evaluating the actions of military personnel. This is precisely why the measures are of a surprise nature.

“Through the state secretary of the Security Council, an order was issued to the commander of the mechanized brigade to bring the military unit to combat readiness,” Aleksandr Volfovich explained.

He particularly noted that the minister of defense, of course, monitors these activities but cannot in any way influence the course of the inspection.

Regarding preliminary results, the state secretary of the Security Council reported that the subunits of the mechanized battalion had successfully completed their task. They conducted a march to the designated assembly area within the established timeframe and are now engaged in deploying in that area and preparing their equipment and weapons for live-fire exercises.

“The other subunits have been brought to the appropriate levels of combat readiness within the established timeframes. Inspections of readiness are being conducted. Specifically, with reconnaissance, tank, and other subunits that have been placed on combat alert in accordance with the order. The deadlines have been met. The personnel loaded the material supplies within the established timeframes. The equipment has been deployed and brought to combat readiness. A check of the condition of weapons and military equipment for performing further tasks is currently underway,” Aleksandr Volfovich said.

He also noted that the winter conditions and frosty weather are leaving a certain mark. “But this has an invigorating effect on the personnel. The guardsmen of this formation successfully fulfil the assigned tasks. We still have control exercises in physical and marksmanship training ahead. We will conduct a more detailed analysis upon completion of the inspection, which will be reported to the commander-in-chief,” the state secretary of the Security Council said.

As BelTA reported, a large-scale inspection of the Armed Forces, ordered by the Belarusian president, began on 16 January. The first unit to be inspected was a technical support unit – one of the largest units in the Armed Forces, where various models of armored vehicles and military equipment are stored.