Hrodna Residents Massively Conscripted for Military Training. What about Minsk Residents? Get Ready, Your Turn is 2027-2028

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During a conversation with Alexander Lukashenka at the 227th training ground of the North-Western Operational Command, Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin noted that the 6th Mechanized Brigade has been brought to "increased combat readiness".

"The brigade has never been checked to the extent currently planned for this inspection. The brigade will be fully mobilized to wartime manning levels. Currently, reservists have been called up to the reserve regiment of the Western Operational Command, which is intended for replenishing losses," the minister reported to Lukashenka.

Checks involving the deployment of an entire brigade to wartime manning levels are a relatively new practice for Belarus. According to the minister, similar checks were previously conducted in two other brigades:

"In accordance with the new methodology, based on the experience and problematic issues we identified during the inspections of the 19th Brigade and the 11th Brigade, we saw that an advance call-up of reserve officers and conducting training with them is necessary so that they are ready to perform their tasks."

Khrenin also reported that 400 reserve officers were called up before the start of the full combat readiness check.

For the first time, an entire mechanized brigade was brought to "full" combat readiness in 2023. This was the 11th Mechanized Brigade, stationed in Slonim.

As the brigade commander, Colonel Sergei Shilin, reported that year, the task was to check the unit's ability to transition to a combat readiness level, mobilize reserve servicemen, be equipped with appropriate weaponry, military and special equipment, and conduct a march to mission areas with tactical exercises.

That year, personnel replenishment from the reserves was carried out through the military commissariats of Brest and Hrodna regions.

Khrenin noted then that a check of this scale was being conducted for the first time and that within its framework "there are no restrictions." At the same time, "the brigade has been brought to wartime manning levels, which is 6,000 people." Analysts estimated the number of conscripted personnel at approximately 4,000 people.

The minister did not specify the number of brigade personnel in peacetime. Such information is not available in open sources. According to some estimates, it could be up to half the number provided for by wartime manning levels.

When a similar check in 2024 covered the 19th Mechanized Brigade, stationed in Zaslonava (Lepel district, Vitsebsk region), the Ministry of Defense reported that more than 3,000 reservists had been called up, and noted that this number might be sufficient to deploy a mechanized brigade to wartime manning levels.

Павялічыць

Land Forces and Special Operations Forces on the map of Belarus. Source: Wikimedia Commons

It should be noted that during combat readiness checks, in addition to mechanized brigades, other units (e.g., battalions) are also deployed in parallel. However, usually only one brigade is brought to full wartime manning levels.

Given that there are only four mechanized brigades in Belarus, it can be assumed that in 2027 or 2028, the 120th Mechanized Brigade (Minsk), which currently remains the last one, may undergo a similar check.

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