Lukashenko demands results from scientists on state security
11:00, 6 October
Photo: BelTA
When it comes to ensuring state security, what is needed from scientists is concrete results, not “fairy tales” and promises to do something useful in the future, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a working trip to Minsk Oblast, while visiting the testing ground of the O. V. Roman Powder Metallurgy Institute on 6 October, BelTA has learned.
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The head of state was briefed on promising developments by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus aimed at strengthening technological sovereignty. In this area, Belarusian scientists also work for the civilian sector. For example, they produce industrial explosives that are in great demand in geological exploration and quarrying.
In the military sector, one of the pressing tasks today, as Aleksandr Lukashenko said, is to “zero out drones”, that is, to develop means that can reliably and effectively counter them. All the more so since Belarus has scientific schools working in this field.
“We need results,” the head of state told the scientists. “While preparing for this trip, I thought that Vladimir Stepanovich [Karanik, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences] would report for the first time not only to me but also to the people on his achievements in ensuring state security. This should not be another fairy tale about how we will do something tomorrow.”
Developing new means of countering drones and improving drones themselves is an important area in which the state expects serious results from the scientific sector, but it is not the only one. Of course, all this work requires serious funding. “This is substantial state investment. Is it producing the result it can produce, the result that both the military and the country need?” Aleksandr Lukashenko put this fundamental question to the participants in the event.
Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Karankevich and Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Pavel Muraveiko reported that the tasks set for scientists are being addressed. But the president demands maximum return, with results not in the distant future but within concrete, tight deadlines.
“So that we set the task: go and solve it. And monitor it every six months,” the head of state said. “These general conversations are of no use to anyone. We set serious, extraordinary tasks for the military. The tasks that need to be solved must be solved immediately. There will be no other tasks. We do not need scientists who walk around telling fairy tales.”
At the testing ground, the president was shown, among other things, drones, tests of high-energy explosives, armored vehicles, armor protection and special equipment, as well as UAV detection, tracking and destruction systems.
