Minsk/Moscow. January 26. INTERFAX - A unit of the Russian Airborne Troops has arrived for exercises in Belarus, the country's Defense Ministry said.
"At these minutes, an echelon with Russian paratroopers who arrived to participate in the inspection of the reaction forces of the Union State on the territory of Belarus is unloading at the Brest-Yuzhny railway station," the Belarusian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
On January 25, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the arrival in Belarus of Russian gunners and marines from the Far East.
Before that, the Russian military published footage of the arrival of motorized rifle brigade forces from Transbaikalia in Belarus.
Units and subunits of the Eastern Military District with regular weapons and equipment are being transferred to Belarus for the exercises.
Russia and Belarus have announced an inspection of the reaction forces of the Union State.
According to the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Alexander Fomin, at the first stage - until February 9 - it is planned to redeploy and create groups of troops. At the second stage - from February 10 to 20 - the joint exercises "Allied Determination-2022" will be held.
On January 22, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the beginning of relocation to Belarus for exercises of Su-35 fighters. According to official data of the military department, the flight should be carried out by 12 Su-35.
On January 21, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the beginning of the transfer of two divisions of long-range S-400 Triumph air defense systems to Belarus by rail. Upon arrival, they will take up combat training duty as part of the unified regional air defense system of Russia and Belarus.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced plans to send a division of short-range air defense systems "Pantsir-S" to the exercises.
Almost all the Armed Forces of Belarus, as well as parts of the Eastern Military District, the Aerospace Forces and the Airborne Troops of Russia will be involved in the exercises, Andrei Nekrasevich, head of the main directorate of combat training of the Belarusian army, said on January 21.
The number of participants in the maneuvers was not called.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, "the number of military personnel and equipment involved in the exercises that fall under the Vienna Document of 2011 does not exceed the parameters defined by it, which are subject to notification."
Joint maneuvers of Russia and Belarus should not cause any concern, including in the context of the situation around Ukraine, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on January 19.
"We have a Union state with Belarus, we have relevant plans, these plans must be implemented. Various kinds of events are held, among these events there are sudden inspections, and much more," Ryabkov said.