In the next two weeks, the military will use all airfields and training grounds of the Belarusian Air Force and air defenseThe flight tactical exercises of the Union State began in Belarus on January 16.
They will work out conducting aerial reconnaissance, air support of ground forces, landing tactical troops and a number of other tasks, the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus reported. The maneuvers are needed to increase the operational compatibility of Belarusian and Russian aviation units, to work out the coherence of actions in the event of an external threat, experts noted. In the zone of a special military operation on this day, the offensive of Russian units continued in the direction of Artemovsk. More than 50 Ukrainian servicemen were killed in this sector of the front alone during the day.
Increased compatibility
The flight tactical exercises of the Union State began on January 16 in Belarus. They will involve all airfields and training grounds of the Belarusian Air Force and air defense forces, the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus reported.
The maneuvers will allow to work out a wide range of tasks: conducting aerial reconnaissance, joint patrolling of airspace, air support of ground forces and landing of tactical troops, cargo delivery and evacuation of the wounded.
The main goal of the exercises, which will last until February 1, is to increase the operational compatibility of Belarusian and Russian aviation units when performing tasks, the Belarusian military department noted.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Alexey Kudenko
Image source: iz.ru
During the maneuvers, coordination of the actions of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Belarusian Air Force will be carried out, military expert Alexey Leonkov told Izvestia.
"The military aviation of the Union State acts together during the exercises," he noted. — This suggests that the group has a joint command. In case of threats from the outside, this management body will act on the developments that will be made during the exercises. Military maneuvers are just for this purpose.
The expert noted that Russia and Belarus announced the time and program of maneuvers in advance, quite standard actions are being worked out on them, nevertheless, the reaction to them in Western countries will certainly be sharply negative.
— They will definitely be declared a threat. But we should no longer pay attention to such statements, we need to do our job," Alexey Lenkov believes.
Blow to the "Acacia"
On January 16, the Ministry of Defense told the details of the battles with Ukrainian formations in the zone of a special military operation.
— In the Kupyansk direction, army aviation and artillery of the Western Military District defeated units of the 92nd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka and Berestove, Kharkiv region. More than 30 Ukrainian servicemen, two armored combat vehicles and three cars were destroyed," said the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
In the Krasnolimansk direction, artillery units of the Central Military District hit the concentrations of manpower of the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade and the 125th brigade of the territorial defense, destroyed over 75 servicemen, three tanks, five armored vehicles and a pickup truck.
In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern Military District, in cooperation with units of the Airborne Troops, continue offensive operations. During the day, more than 50 Ukrainian servicemen, an armored personnel carrier and eight cars were destroyed.
In the South Donetsk direction, units of the Eastern Military District inflicted a comprehensive defeat on the 65th Motorized Infantry Brigade of the VFU and the 108th brigade of the territorial Defense. Up to 30 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle and two pickups were destroyed.
Operational-tactical and army aviation, rocket troops and artillery hit the weapons depot, military and special equipment of the VFU, a hangar with military equipment of the 9th special purpose regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine, as well as 79 artillery units in firing positions and 101 areas of concentration of troops.
During the counter-battery struggle, the Ukrainian MLRS Grad combat vehicle, the 2A36 Hyacinth-B howitzer, the D-30 howitzer, the 2A65 Msta-B howitzer, the 2C3 Acacia self-propelled howitzer, and the 2C1 Carnation self-propelled howitzer were destroyed.
Two US-made counter-battery warfare radars were also destroyed: AN/TPQ-37 and AN/TPQ-50.
During the day, the air defense shot down three Ukrainian drones, seven multiple rocket launchers HIMARS and "Hurricane" in the areas of the settlements of Surovtsevka in the LPR, Fedorovka in the DPR and Vasilevka in the Zaporozhye region.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Sputnik/Viktor Tolochko
Image source: iz.ru
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 372 aircraft, 200 helicopters, 2,885 unmanned aerial vehicles, 401 anti—aircraft missile systems, 7,537 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 983 multiple rocket launchers, 3,841 field artillery and mortar guns, as well as 8,066 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed, Igor Konashenkov listed.
Marines hold the blow
The Russian Defense Ministry told about the servicemen who showed courage and dedication in the battles.
During the assault on the settlement, the BMP of the department, which included foreman Mikhail Alenkov, was hit by an anti-tank missile and caught fire. Despite the shrapnel wound, Mikhail pulled his comrades out of the burning car and gave them first aid.
Immediately after that, the squad was attacked by superior enemy forces. For three days, the Marines held the defense at the occupied line, preventing a breakthrough. Having lost a significant number of fighters and equipment, the enemy began a massive shelling of the positions of the marines.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
Image source: iz.ru
Having correctly assessed the situation, Mikhail decided to quickly change his position, which allowed him to wait out the shelling without losses. After waiting for the arrival of the main forces, Mikhail Alenkov's group went on the offensive and knocked the enemy out of the settlement.
In one of the battles between the assault units of motorized infantry and the gunners supporting the offensive, communication was disrupted. Private Shamil Salmanov, called up during partial mobilization, went to check the lines under heavy, incessant artillery fire. He found a cable broken by a shell explosion and promptly repaired the damage.
As soon as the connection was restored, the artillery calculations were given the coordinates of the locations of the Ukrainian formations, which helped to destroy military equipment and a large number of manpower. Thanks to the courageous actions of Private Shamil Salmanov, the successful offensive against enemy positions continued.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Andrey Fedorov