Ministry Of Defense Doesn’t Know How Many Military Men Serve At Russian Bases In Belarus

The military men who will arrive to the "West-2017" exercise will join those already in the country.

The Russian leadership has not abandoned the idea of placing additional military contingent in Belarus. It remains possible that Moscow will use the joint Belarusian-Russian military exercises "West-2017". This opinion was expressed by Russian political analyst Alexander Sytin, Euroradio reports.

“They will say something like, the threat from NATO grows, that you won’t be able to handle it by yourselves if the NATO attacks, that there is a need to guard a radar station or something like that. In any case, they will try to do it to see the reaction of Belarus,” ― Sytin contemplates.

Today there are two Russian bases in Belarus: the radar station "Volga" is located in Hantsavichy, and the radio station of the 43rd assembly of the Russian Navy is located in Vileyka. The first base provides the systems of alarm in case of a missile attack, the second one provides the connection with nuclear submarines and at the same time works in the Air Force, the cosmic forces and conducts radio intelligence and electronic warfare. These are important objects. What are the grounds under which additional Russian troops can "join" those who are already there? By the way, how many Russian military men stay at the bases in Hantsavichy and Vileyka today? I addressed to the Ministry of Defense of Belarus on this issue. But, as it turns out, they don’t know.

“I have no such information. As they say, it’s not our competence. Moreover, it is not the military base in the traditional sense of the word. So I ask you to speak directly to them (the Defense Ministry - approx.) And ask your question there, "― head of the press-center of the Minister of Defense of Belarus Uladzimir Makarau unexpectedly answered.

According to Belarusian military expert Aliaksandr Alesin , the number of the Russian military men at the bases in Belarus and all the nuances connected with the functioning of these bases are regulated by the corresponding documents. However, these documents are classified as “secret”. According to Alesin, they didn’t let him study the above-mentioned documents.

“There are serious objects with the well-developed infrastructure, I can tell the approximate number of the military men: somewhere more, somewhere less, but about 400 persons at each object. However, if the number of military men at this basis is increased by an amount bigger than previously coordinated, it is subject for a new agreement. Because this object is on the territory of another state,” ― Alesin says.

Alexander Sytin doubts that Russia will adhere to the previously signed agreements in case it needs something.

As the website Charter97.org previously reported, many experts expressed concern about the exercise "West-2017", as it jeopardized the independence of Belarus.