President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is on a working visit to Pukhovichi District today, during which he is visiting the 5th Separate Special Purpose Brigade in Maryina Gorka, BELTA correspondent reports.
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is on a working visit to Pukhovichi District today, during which he is visiting the 5th Separate Special Purpose Brigade in Maryina Gorka, BELTA correspondent reports.
The Head of State was briefed on the organizational structure and main tasks of the brigade, and he will familiarize himself with samples of weapons, equipment, and uniforms of the special purpose units. The President visited the brigade's museum of history and combat glory, after which he met with the military personnel.
During his working trip, Alexander Lukashenko also visited the "Aquamarine" swimming pool, which opened in Maryina Gorka, and familiarized himself with the prospects for the construction of social infrastructure facilities in the region.
The 5th Special Purpose Brigade was formed in Maryina Gorka on January 1, 1963. Its servicemen fought in Afghanistan in 1985-1988 (for which the 334th Separate Special Purpose Detachment was created), and in early 1990, they carried out a government assignment to stabilize the situation in the Armenian SSR.
At the brigade, Alexander Lukashenko inspected the small arms used by the special purpose detachments: machine guns, sniper rifles, assault rifles, grenade launchers, and a missile launcher.
In September 2002, Alexander Lukashenko presented the 5th Brigade with a new Combat Banner of the military unit, replacing the Soviet one, and a Certificate of the President of Belarus. Since May 2007, the military formation has been part of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Belarus.
The brigade is designed to perform reconnaissance and special tasks both in the deep rear of the enemy and on its own territory. It consists of a brigade headquarters, five special purpose detachments, including two officer detachments, and support units. It is armed with "Bogatyr" and "Dragon" all-terrain vehicles and small arms (assault rifles and machine guns, sniper rifles, and others).