Belarusian Defence Ministry: Russian planes take off for "patrols"
STANISLAV POHORILOV – THURSDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2022, 11:22
The Ministry of Defence of Belarus has reported the departure of Russian fighter aircraft, allegedly to "patrol" the borders of the Union State [an organisation aiming to deepen the relationship between Russia and Belarus through integration in economic and defence policy – ed.].
Source: press service of the Ministry of Defence of Belarus; Belarusian news agency Zerkalo; Belaruski Hajun [an independent Belarusian military monitoring media outlet]
Quote: "At this moment, the Russian aviation element of the joint regional troops (forces) is carrying out a planned patrol of the air borders of the Union State."
Details: Russia recently deployed MiG-31 interceptor fighter jets to Belarus, some of which can carry Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. They took off from Machulishchy air base today.
A MiG-31 has now landed at Machulishchy air base. The aircraft was in the air for about one and a half hours, accompanied by two fighter jets that took off from Baranavichy air base.
Background:
- On 10 October, Aleksandr Lukashenko announced that the Russian Federation and Belarus had agreed on the deployment of a joint regional force.
- On 11 October, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that Russia is trying to drag Belarus into the war, and some kind of provocation involving an alleged Ukrainian attack on Belarus may be organised to justify it.
- On 15 October, the first trainloads of Russian troops arrived in the Republic of Belarus.
- Valery Revenka [Aide to the Belarusian Minister of Defence] said a total of 9,000 Russian soldiers will be deployed in Belarus as part of the two countries’ "joint military group".
- On 16 October, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported that the situation at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border is under control at the moment. No changes had been recorded; the situation with Russian forces in the hinterland is being monitored by intelligence and similar units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine.
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