Minsk. February 19. INTERFAX - Representatives of the armed forces of Latvia and Lithuania have arrived in Belarus to observe the Belarusian-Russian exercise "Allied Resolve-2022", the Ministry of Defense of Belarus reported on Saturday.
"In accordance with the invitation sent by the Ministry of Defense, representatives of the armed forces of the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania arrived in the Republic of Belarus to observe the Belarusian-Russian exercise "Allied Resolve-2022," the Ministry of Defense informed.
On Friday, a briefing was held for foreign military observers, on Saturday they will visit the Obuz-Lesnovsky training ground.
"On February 19, observers will visit the 230 combined arms training ground "Obuz-Lesnovsky", where they will be able to observe the drawing of hostilities as part of the exercise," the message says.
"The Republic of Belarus invited military observers from these states on a voluntary basis, based on the desire to develop cooperation and good-neighborliness, as well as on the principles of openness, transparency and reciprocity," the Belarusian military department noted.
Russia and Belarus are checking the reaction forces of the Union State. At the first stage - on February 9 - the redeployment and creation of groups of troops took place. At the second stage - from February 10 to 20 - the joint exercise "Allied Determination-2022" is held.
A number of units of the Armed Forces of Belarus, as well as parts of the Eastern Military District, the Aerospace Forces (VKS) and the Airborne Troops (Airborne Forces) of Russia are taking part in the exercises. In particular, long-range S-400 Triumph air defense systems, Pantsir-S short-range air defense systems, Su-35 multi-purpose fighters of the fourth generation and Su-25SM attack aircraft have been relocated to Belarus from Russia.
In Belarus, four training grounds ("Obuz-Lesnovsky", "Osipovichi", "Brest", "Gozhsky"), a number of terrain areas, as well as four airfields (in Baranovichi, Luninets, Lida and Machulishchi) are involved in the exercises.
The maneuvers are taking place against the backdrop of a crisis in relations between Russia and NATO. The United States, other NATO countries and Ukraine announced the concentration of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border and the threat of a Russian invasion.
