Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko paid a working visit to the Brest Region just over a year ago. In the Luninets District, the Head of State visited military facilities where he was briefed on the organisation and execution of combat duty tasks for air defence. It was here, on 21 January 2022, that the President held a meeting on strengthening the country's military security, which became a new starting point both for the Armed Forces as a whole and for the lives of the military personnel in the Luninets District. A new anti-aircraft missile regiment has now been formed here.
As they say, every cloud has a silver lining. The military infrastructure, carefully preserved since Soviet times, has proven more useful than ever in the current turbulent times. It is sufficient to recall that the airbase in Luninets was in high demand during the USSR years and served the interests of all Warsaw Pact countries. It was a training airfield for fighter-bombers during the Cold War.
DEFENCE OF THE SOUTHERN BORDERS
During his visit to the Luninets District at the beginning of last year, Aleksandr Lukashenko stated: "Today we have gathered here, in a quiet, peaceful corner of our Belarus, to discuss the security issues of our state. Just 10 years ago, no one could have imagined that a moment like today would come and we would have to create military units and an entire formation to defend our southern borders. With a heavy heart, we observe everything that is happening in Ukraine. Its current political leadership, being under external control, sometimes behaves unpredictably and inadequately. Therefore, for this case – unpredictability, inadequacy – and in case, God forbid, of military action, we need to make decisions."
"Almost one and a half thousand kilometres of the southern border between Belarus and Ukraine is a considerable length. Whatever it may cost us, we must not just see what will happen and is happening on this border; it must be reliably protected," emphasised the Belarusian leader.
Alexander Lukashenko stated that everything possible is being torn out of the soul of the Ukrainian nation. First of all, the memory of the Slavic peoples, common roots, language, cultural and ethnic code that binds the peoples. "They are trying to destroy everything in the souls of Ukrainians," he said. "We could not have imagined that several decades after the end of the Great Patriotic War, thugs with fascist swastikas would march through the central streets of Kyiv and other cities. This is unacceptable for us, because we will never forget everything that happened on our territory. In the end, we remember Khatyn, we remember what happened. And not only what happened, but who committed these atrocities there. This is also one of the reasons why we are forced to react today here, in the south of our country, to the situation that is developing."
Events in Khatyn were remembered on a large scale and at the state level in Belarus this year as well, when it was recently 80 years since this tragedy. However, the words and subsequent decisions of the head of state regarding the southern borders have become truly prophetic. The situation on them was already far from ideal, considering the course taken by the Ukrainian authorities back in 2020 to break off normal relations with Belarus. But with the start of the Russian special military operation, the decision to strengthen the southern borders became not just timely, but vitally necessary. And air defence here, in view of the incidents that have occurred, plays one of the most important roles.
If you want peace, prepare for war. This eternal thesis has been repeatedly emphasized by Alexander Lukashenko, demanding that everything be done so that a potential enemy cannot take by surprise. At the same time, Belarus does not want war. "We are building our security based on defending our borders, on protecting ourselves," said the head of state.
NEW REGIMENT
The Minister of Defence, Viktor Khrenin, reported to the President on what is necessary for the defence of the southern borders back in late November 2021. Therefore, the visit to Luninetsky District a couple of months later in January was not accidental. "Then we agreed that we would meet here in Luninets on some day, this place, which is very good and convenient from a military point of view, to discuss all the proposals that were put forward then. Then I asked to finalise those proposals," said Alexander Lukashenko.
He demanded a report on the results of the refinement, outlining what needs to be done not only in Luninets but also in Belarus as a whole regarding the air defence system, and most importantly, on the southern borders.
Viktor Khrenin, in a conversation with journalists in January last year following a meeting, also noted the tense situation and militarisation not only in NATO countries but also in the Ukrainian direction. "Increased intensity of combat training among our neighbours. And, of course, the changed political vector of neighbouring Ukraine. From there, unfortunately, accusations and threats are directed at us. They openly declare that American servicemen are permanently stationed and working at the Ministry of Defence. We constantly see their airspace being used by reconnaissance aircraft. We see camps are currently deployed," the minister reported. "And today, the issue of military security is very acute. We must, we are obliged to make decisions to protect our country. Both how we will protect it now and for the future."
Therefore, during the head of state's visit, the development of the air defence system was discussed, including for the medium and long term up to 2040. "This town (in Luninets district. - BELTA's note) has a great future ahead of it; its infrastructure will be developed, restored, and repaired. Military units are currently stationed here, and new ones will appear," the minister promised.
And here is a concrete result. As reported on March 23 this year by the Ministry of Defence, a new anti-aircraft missile regiment has been formed in Belarus. During the formation of the regiment, special attention was paid to the creation of modern military infrastructure and educational and material base, the provision of comfortable accommodation for personnel, and social security issues for military personnel and their families.
The Minister of Defence visited a military unit in Luninets. He stressed that the formation of a new anti-aircraft missile regiment was an adequate response to the situation around the country's borders. "The situation around our country is not becoming calmer. There is active militarisation in the West, and military potential near our borders is increasing. Ukraine is being supplied with weapons, and the Ukrainian leadership is demonstrating unpredictability in its actions. We are forced to act adequately to the challenges and threats that may arise within the framework of our country's security. Therefore, it was decided to create a new anti-aircraft missile regiment on the basis of the existing military unit in Luninets," explained Viktor Khrenin.
The new regiment is stationed 50 km from the state border. The best specialists have been transferred here. They are equipped with modern weapons. A good training and material base has been created here. Barracks for conscripts have been equipped.
HOUSING FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL
As the President has repeatedly noted, military personnel and large families are a priority in housing matters. A person who dedicates their entire being to serving the Motherland, defending its borders, understanding that in certain circumstances they may have to sacrifice their own life, should not worry about their rear or think about where their family will live. This principled decision by Alexander Lukashenko, not only as Commander-in-Chief by position but also as a person who has gone through a serious military school, has also found real embodiment in the development of military infrastructure in Luninets.
A service house has been built for the families of military personnel. Places have been allocated for children in schools and kindergartens, and jobs have been provided for family members.
Overall, when forming the new regiment, the issue of social security for military personnel and their families was a priority. "The President repeatedly says that the main task of the state is to provide housing for public sector employees and military personnel. The construction of a house for military personnel proves these words in practice. Obtaining housing will be an incentive to perform tasks more qualitatively, effectively, and professionally. When a person has no worries about their rear, they will perform tasks better. This is an axiom," said Viktor Khrenin, adding that with the regiment on combat duty, the combat potential of the Armed Forces will be strengthened and the effectiveness of air defence will be increased.
By the way, in February, the Head of State signed Decree No. 37 on providing military personnel with rental housing. Another way to obtain housing has been added to all existing methods. Now, uniformed personnel have the right to receive housing free of charge after dedicating a certain number of years of their lives to serving the Motherland. Last year, 540 apartments for military personnel were built in Belarus across 12 cities. In 2023, it is planned to construct over 3.9 thousand rental apartments in 24 cities of the country.
Source: belta.by