Overview of Military Activity in Belarus – July 2025 

Overview of Military Activity in Belarus – July 2025
Photo: Ministry of Defence

— The combat training of the Belarusian Armed Forces was full of various events. In July, there was firing exercise with the Polonez MLRS at a training ground in Russia, a training with units of the Engineering Troops on the Dniapro river, drills with units of the Radio-Technical Troops practicing countering UAVs and network-centric command and control, joint drills of reconnaissance and artillery units, as well as EW units in Hrodna region. Preparations were made for operational-tactical drills with the Air Force and Air Defense Forces, which will take place in August-September 2025 at the Ashuluk training ground in Russia.

— The West-2025 joint strategic drills should be especially noted. Statements by officials about adjustments to the format of the drills have been confirmed: the number of participants has indeed been reduced, and the main events have been relocated deeper into the country. The main location for the drills will be the Barysauski training ground, where troops are expected to begin arriving in mid-August. About 5,000 Belarusian Armed Forces personnel and about 1,200 Russian Armed Forces personnel are expected to participate in the maneuvers, as well as, for the first time, national home guard detachments. It is noted that the drills are defensive in nature, with an emphasis on the use of UAVs, EW means, and modern technologies. Active preparations for the transfer of units of the Russian Armed Forces by rail have been confirmed.

— No troop movements by rail were officially recorded in Belarus, while aviation activity remained high. Flights by Su-30SM/SM2 fighters and Mi-8 and Mi-24/35 helicopters were regularly recorded from Baranavichy, Machulishchy, and Babruisk airfields. The main focus was on patrolling the southern and western regions of Belarus, as well as searching for, intercepting, and destroying Russian UAVs.

— No significant information on the activities of military commissariats was received. As for the territorial defense, it was reported that calculations had begun on the costs of switching the Belarusian economy to a wartime basis. These actions indicate the start of practical implementation of legislation in the field of mobilization training. In total, at least 272 people were drafted for military training sessions in July, and about 8,870 since the beginning of the year.

— The main event in the rearmament of the Belarusian Armed Forces was the introduction of the Podorozhnik mobile dressing station. New deliveries were also announced: the Ministry of Defense is purchasing a batch of ATsIP-6V tankers for water supply, and in the future, it plans to completely rearm the 120th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade with the Buk-MB2 SAM system (three divizions will be delivered by 2028). In addition, the arrival of another batch of Su-30SM2 fighters is expected.

— There were reports of military infrastructure development. For example, the construction of storage facilities for Iskander systems was completed in Asipovichy, and the modernization of the 1405th ammunition depot, where TNW may be deployed, continues. Repair work is also underway at Machulishchy airfield. Speaking about the formation of new units, additional confirmation can be noted of the 147th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment becoming part of the Special Operations Forces.

— Activity in the field of international military cooperation was low. The Belarusian Ministry of Defense took the initiative to resume contacts with Poland. Working meetings were also held with delegations from Vietnam, Kazakhstan, and Indonesia, during which issues of communications, facility security, specialist training, and specific areas for further cooperation were discussed.

— No new confirmed information on the deployment of TNW in Belarus has been received. Despite continuing official statements, there is no reliable information on the actual deployment of TNW, although infrastructure development in Asipovichy district requires further observation. There is also no actual data on the deployment of the Oreshnik missile system, but Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces P. Muraveika stated that all technical and organisational issues related to the formation of units armed with these systems have been resolved. It was officially confirmed for the first time that the Belarusian Armed Forces plan to create such units.

— The Internal Troops continued active combat training, including with the participation of “volunteers” and instructors with combat experience. Joint training with GUBAZiK (the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption) continued. Enrollment in the Internal Troops faculty of the Military Academy was completed: a significant number of applicants were members of military-patriotic clubs. No notable events were recorded in the border guard bodies.

— The situation in the border regions of Belarus remained stable. Units of the 38th Air Assault Brigade and the 5th Special Forces Brigade are deployed in the Ukrainian direction (in Homiel and Luninets districts). Internal Troops units, including Berkut and Grom detachments, are also stationed in Homiel region on a rotational basis. The total strength of the group is estimated at 1,000 personnel, it does not pose a serious military threat to Ukraine. No redeployment of troops in the western direction (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia) was recorded.

Military-industrial complex. Specialists from JSC ALEVKUP and JSC Design Bureau Display conducted an experiment to integrate the Klyon radar with the Adunok combat module. A protocol was signed to the agreement between the governments of Russia and Belarus on a unified export control procedure, which provides for a mechanism for regular bilateral consultations. In addition, the first meeting of the Belarusian-Tajik commission on military-technical cooperation was held in Minsk. Information also emerged about a “secret” plant in Minsk producing the Mirotvorets and Askalon attack UAVs. The plant plans to increase production to 960 drones per year.

— There were 90 recorded cases of UAVs, mainly Russian Shahed and Gerbera type, entering Belarusian airspace. Eight UAVs were shot down or crashed on the territory of the country. The incident in Minsk, where a drone crashed into the courtyard of a residential building, caused the greatest resonance. There were also two cases of Russian UAVs crossing the Lithuanian border from Belarus. The increase in the number of such incidents is linked to the sharp increase in the use of UAVs by Russia against Ukraine (over 6,200 launches in July). Against this background, there is no reason to expect an end to flights into Belarus in the near future. On the contrary, they are likely to increase further.

— The main change in legislation was Decree No. 282, which approved a new version of the Regulations on Military Transport Duty. The document expands the list of vehicles subject to the obligation, including UAVs, aircraft, quadcopters, and equipment leased from citizens. In addition, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense will receive free access to data on the registration and condition of vehicles transferred to the armed forces.

— The situation with the Russian group in Belarus remains stable – S-400 SAM divizions continue to be stationed at Ziabrauka and Mazyr airfields. The total number of Russian troops in Belarus remains stable at around 2,000.

— The aviation activity of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Belarus in July remained within normal limits. There were several arrivals: two IL-76 at Homiel airport (as part of a prisoner exchange), one Tu-154 at Machulishchy airfield, two IL-76 and one An-26 at Baranavichy airfield. As of August 1, no permanent presence of Russian aircraft and/or helicopters in Belarus has been recorded.

Contents

1. Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus
1.1. Combat training
1.2. Movement of troops by rail. Aviation activity
1.3. Military commissariats
1.4. Territorial defense
1.5. Training of the mobilization reserve
1.6. Rearmament of the Belarusian Armed Forces
1.7. Military infrastructure development. Formation of new units
1.8. Personnel appointments and staffing of the Belarusian Armed Forces
1.9. International military cooperation
1.10. Tactical nuclear weapons. Oreshnik missile system
2. Internal Troops. Border guard authorities
2.1. Internal Troops
2.2. Border guard authorities
3. Group deployed in the border regions of Belarus
3.1. Border with Ukraine
3.2. Border with NATO member states
4. Work of the military-industrial complex
5. Violation of Belarus’s airspace by Russian UAVs
6. Amendments to legislation in the military sphere
7. Russia’s military activity in Belarus
7.1. Russian group in Belarus
7.2. Aviation activity


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Материал доступен на русском языке: Обзор военной активности в Беларуси за июль 2025

11.08.2025