Territorial defense training in Belarus has been further enhanced, Belarusian Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov said as he attended the opening of a military security and defense session that brought together the heads of the regional executive committees and Minsk City Hall in Minsk on 14 February, BelTA has learned.
A number of events were held in the run-up to the session in Minsk and different regions of Belarus under the supervision of local authorities. Some 400 discharged soldiers were recalled and four sessions were held to train territorial defense specialists. Fifty-seven specialists completed six training sessions at the Military Academy. “Thanks to these measures, the territorial defense training has been enhanced. We take a comprehensive approach to important issues, such as the organization of a command post exercise with a territorial defense region,” Andrei Ravkov emphasized.
The session started in Minsk on 14 February with theoretical classes. The next day will be devoted to practical exercises at the Uruchye training area of the 120th Special Guards Mechanized Brigade and in Smolevichi District. Special attention will be paid to the organization of a command post exercise with a territorial defense region.
Andrei Ravkov expressed confidence that such sessions contribute to constant improvement of territorial defense. Other territorial defense events scheduled for 2017 also make their contribution.
Belarus has been developing the territorial defense system for 15 years already. Its major objectives are to improve the country's defense capacity, promote the universal nature of homeland protection, and step up participation in the effort to ensure stable operation of state agencies and organizations, industries, economic units and infrastructure in time of war. The key tasks that the territorial defense system deals with include enhancing the protection of the state border, protecting strategic sites and facilities, and participating in the enforcement of martial law to ensure armed protection of the Republic of Belarus.
