Belarus launches military drills near Ukraine border

Belarus will hold military training exercises near its border with Ukraine from July 7 to July 31, involving reservists from territorial defence units, the Defence Ministry said on Monday, July 6.

According to state news agency BelTA, the drills will take place in the Malaryta and Drahichyn districts, both of which lie along the Ukrainian border.

The ministry said the exercises will focus on practising territorial defence operations under martial law conditions, including measures to protect personnel and infrastructure from unmanned aerial vehicles.

Additional objectives include refreshing command personnel’s skills in unit management, preparing reservists to carry out their assigned duties, and rehearsing the formation, training and deployment of “people’s militia” units.

The drills are described as part of routine training activities for Belarus’s territorial defence forces.

By Tamilla Hasanova