Military Commissaries Began To Call Belarusians For Training Camps More Often

What is the reason for the exercises?

Belarusian military commissaries began to call people for “training camps” more often. Nasha Niva learned the type and course of this training and from sources who had passed through it.

A massive wave of calls to military commissaries has been predicted as early as the autumn of 2022. Then it became known that the new “academic year” in the Belarusian army - the first half of the year as a rule - begins on December 1, and the second one - on June 1 - and would be devoted to mobilization readiness. Combat training was the motto of 2021-2022.

It’s easy to find the reason for the decision. Partial mobilization, declared the main "ally", faced organizational problems: Lukashenka's Ministry of Defence decided that it was better to learn from the mistakes of others.

And even before the start of the training period, which did not promise anything good to reservists, the army decided to try mobilization innovations, which, however, did not go far.

There were a lot of publications about the first part: dischargees were frightened by mobilization orders in the autumn with foreign travel bans for the first six months after service without informing the military сommissaries office. The officers agitated their subordinates to sign contracts with this cover. Their term is standard (two years), but allegedly with the possibility of termination after six months. Like, not just to sit being unable to travel abroad, when you can serve these six months with a contract and then be free. And in case of war, you will go on the attack not with the “mobics”, but with your unit.

But this campaign was not successful. Demobilized troopers simply did not believe in horror stories about foreign travel bans - and they were right. They had no new offer and conditions in their prescriptions. Their comrades, who left in the spring, were no longer so frightened: either they realized the futility or the situation became less acute.

There were not a lot of discussions regarding the second Zapad exercises, but it was also eloquent. On the eve of being transferred to the reserve, conscripts - this does not apply to those who serve for six months after the military department, as they can pick up their “green”, it means handing over their combat uniforms and go home in their everyday uniform (it is often called dress) or in civilian clothes.

They subsequently hand over battle uniforms to warehouses: it is also used for the “partisans” who are to be called for training. And in the autumn they introduced an innovation: soldiers were to hand over their uniforms with id tags in order to receive exactly this uniform in case of mobilization. But they abandoned the idea in the spring.

What are the reasons to call Belarusians to military commissariats?

Maintenance of equipment, learning, single shooting ranges and a lot of vodka - this is how typical training camps look in the minds of Belarusians. But this is not about 2023. This year, "partisans" go to exercises more often.

The Belarusian army staged a large-scale check of combat readiness in the spring.

They did not announce a complete list of troops subjected to the check. However, it is known for sure that the 38th Air Assault Brigade (Brest), 120th Brigade (Minsk), 6th Brigade (Hrodna) and 11th Mechanized Brigade were checked, as well as air defence units.

It was not just a sensation: the troops acted as in wartime. They mobilized "partisans" (in the Ministry of Defenсe they are called "mobilization resources"). It was a training of the whole cycle: collection on alert, mobilization of reservists, departure to the training ground, exercises. The suddenness was very conditional. The unit commanders, until the moment they received the special package, really did not know for sure whether they would have to take part in the check. However, rumors circulated, so the officers and soldiers were still ready for possible business trips, knowing the exact day.

The military commissaries were also preparing for the test, but engaging the "partisans" was really sudden. Often they found out about the collection the day before departure. And sometimes they took away people who parted with a green uniform only in the fall. And upon arrival, in part of the storerooms, they met another surprise: they were not waiting for wandering around classrooms and parks, but field trips.

Usually, formations did not fully participate in such checks - separate battalions were involved. Least of all, the Slonim 11th Mechanized Brigade was the least fortunate: it was fully deployed under wartime conditions - about 6,000 people.

“This is the first time such an event has been held on such a scale,” Defence Minister Viktar Khrenin said at the time. However, it should be noted that, despite this, such field trips did not differ in high intensity. The main emphasis was on alert deployment, manning with "partisans" and reaching the destination area.

The main test for units over several weeks was often daily exercises at the training grounds. All other times - daily life, changing uniforms and occasionally classes. The “degree” helped the “partisans” to adapt to such a life: and even the threats of the battalion commanders could not stop the thirst for their favorite drink.

The “partisans” in Pechy are more likely engaged in servicing mothballed military equipment or participating in regular classes, but this year they also decided to arrange field trips.

We didn’t have to travel far: it takes only 10 minutes to get to the 227th Training Ground, the largest in the country. They set up tents and put military equipment there.

The Ministry of Defence does not forget about the territorial forces. Khrenin does make a secret: Lukashenka supporters were impressed by the Ukrainian experience. From June 8 to June 29, the training camp was held near the "territories" of the Luninets district. At the beginning of summer, Minsk residents were surprised by checkpoints in the city: these were military exercises for the defence of the Leninsky district of the city. However, military commissariats will not enroll ordinary Belarusians in the territorial troops: former security officials are more likely to get there.

Belarusians can also be called to military commissariats for exercises. They were held from 21 to 30 June in the Minsk region. Barbed wire and fortifications appeared near the residential houses.

The "partizans" were called there for a short time: they would check the data, put them on a bus and take them away - the military assured that the procedure would take an hour and a half.