Russia and Belarus launched joint air force exercises Monday, using every military airfield in the country that served as a launchpad for Moscow\u2019s invasion of Ukraine last February.
\nAccording to international media reports, the drills come as Russia’s invasion, now in its 11th month, grinds on as a bloody war of attrition in eastern Ukraine and a campaign of aerial strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
\nThe allies plan joint air patrols along the Belarusian border, airborne landings and support operations for ground troops, as well as deliveries of supplies and evacuations of wounded soldiers, the Belarusian defense ministry said.
\n\u201cThe main purpose of the exercise is to improve interoperability in the joint execution of training and combat tasks,\u201d it said.
\nAs per international media reports,\u00a0the drills will take place from Jan. 16-Feb. 1.
\nPavel Muraveyko, first deputy state secretary of Belarus\u2019 Security Council, told\u00a0reporters that the exercises are \u201cexclusively defensive\u201d but warned that Minsk is \u201cready for any provocative actions from Ukraine.\u201d
\n\u201cWe\u2019re keeping our powder dry, we have the needed set of forces and means that will respond to any aggression or terrorist threat on our territory,\u201d Muraveyko said.
\nWriting on the Telegram messaging app, the Belarusian military said it has activated all of its air force and air defense sites for the joint drills with Russia.
\nMoscow’s close ally Minsk has supported the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine and allowed Russian troops to launch part of its February 2022 invasion from its territory.
\nRussia and Belarus carried out joint military drills close to the border with Ukraine in the run-up to the invasion.
\nThe Belarusian army has not participated in the Russian invasion itself.
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