Exercises "Zapad-2021" to be held from 10 to 16 September

"Zapad-2021" is a defensive exercise that confirms the course of Belarus to strengthen regional security and adherence to allied obligations with the Russian Federation. As it was announced during today's briefing in Minsk, strategic maneuvers will take place from September 10 to 16 in the territory of Belarus and nine training grounds in Russia.

The idea is purely defensive. When determining it, modern approaches to the use of troops were taken into account based on the experience of armed conflicts in recent years, operational training measures, as well as the forms and methods of using troops developed in the armed forces of two states. One of the possible options for the development of the military-political situation was also used, providing for the aggravation of international contradictions to a level capable of leading to destabilization of the situation in the region, as well as unleashing aggression against the Union State. The exercise is based on the scenario of active activity of illegal armed groups, separatist and international terrorist organizations with external support.

4 training grounds will be involved to work out the tasks of the exercise in the territory of Belarus. In total, the number of servicemen taking part in the exercise will be almost 13 000 people, including about 2 500 Russian military personnel and up to 50 Kazakh fighters from the CSTO forces. Up to 350 armored vehicles will also be involved, inc ding the number of aircraft and helicopters.