The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that Russian fighters took up combat duty to protect the air borders at the Baranovichi airfield
MOSCOW, February 9. /tass/. Russian Su-35S fighters took up combat duty to protect the air borders and worked out the interception of air targets as part of the verification of the reaction forces of the Union State. This was reported to journalists on Wednesday in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
"The crews of Russian Su-35S fighters of the Eastern Military District, involved in the verification of the reaction forces of the Union State, took up combat duty for the protection of air borders at the Baranovichi airfield (Republic of Belarus). <...> In addition, the crews of Russian fighters practiced intercepting air targets," the message says.
It is noted that the pilots of the Russian Aerospace Forces studied the areas and flight routes, conducted training on aviation equipment and worked out interaction with the flight management group at the airfield.
"The role of a conditional air enemy was performed by Su-25 aircraft of the assault aviation of the Republic of Belarus. After takeoffs, the fighters on duty received the coordinates of the flight of air targets from command posts and aircraft guidance points, after which they intercepted the target," the Russian military department explained.
Checking the response forces
As previously reported in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the verification of the reaction forces of the Union State will take place in two stages. At the first stage, by February 9, the redeployment and creation of groups of troops on the territory of Belarus was carried out, the protection and defense of important state and military facilities, the protection of the state border in the airspace were organized. Also, the readiness and ability of the air defense forces and means on duty to perform tasks to cover important objects on the territory of the republic was checked.
During the second stage of the inspection, from February 10 to 20, joint exercises "Allied Resolve - 2022" will be held, within the framework of which issues of suppressing and repelling external aggression, as well as countering terrorism and protecting the interests of the Union State will be worked out.
According to the Ministry of Defense, during the exercises, measures will be taken to strengthen the protection of the state border to prevent the penetration of armed groups of militants, to block the channels of delivery of weapons and ammunition, as well as to search, block, destroy illegal armed formations and sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the enemy. Practical actions of the troops will take place at the Domanovsky, Gozhsky, Obuz-Lesnovsky, Brest and Osipovichi ranges and the airfields of Baranovichi, Luninets, Lida and Machulishchi.