Zapad 2013 Belarus-Russia Joint Exercise

On 26 September, the presidents of Belarus and Russia, Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin, participated in the final stage of the Zapad 2013 exercise.

Combat actions were staged at the Gozhski range of the 6th Guards Independent Mechanised Brigade, Western Operational Command, Belarusian Armed Forces.

The exercise allowed developing interaction between Belarusian and Russian motorised infantry and mobile units, the Belarusian Territorial Troops, Belarusian Internal Troops and the Emergencies Ministry when protecting the state border, conducting search operations, as well as containing and eliminating sabotage-reconnaissance and militant groups.

The key tactical episodes included: air reconnaissance by an unmanned aircraft system, air strike on a column of militants, elimination of militant groups by delivering fire ambush operations, employment of airmobile reserves at the potential routes of militant groups, denying the area, etc.

The Zapad 2013 Belarus-Russia joint strategic manoeuvres were held on the territory of the two countries from 20 to 26 September under the supervision of the Belarusian Defence Minister and the Russian Chief of the General Staff, First Deputy Minister of Defence.

The joint exercise of Belarusian and Russian armed forces is held on a biennial basis according to the decision of the countries’ leaders following the Zapad 2009 exercise. In 2011, a similar exercise named Union Shield 2011 was held in Russia.

Zapad 2013 is a defensive exercise, conduced in line with the policy of maintaining combat readiness and adhering to allied commitments with Russia.