Armed Forces of Belarus

1800

Army equipment includes 1800 main battle tanks (MBT) and 2600 AFV/APC.

1918

It commemorates that day 1918 when the first unified military in the country was established as part of the Red Army.

1926

There are 6 military commandants in the Belarusian Armed Forces. Units under the command of commandants include military police, honour guards and military bands. === Military education === Military Academy of Belarus Ministry of the Interior Academy of Belarus Border Guard Service Institute of Belarus Military Faculty of the Belarusian State University – The faculty was established on 4 November 1926, by order of the Revolutionary Military Council.

1941

In 1941, at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, military training classes were interrupted only to be resumed in 1943.

1943

In 1941, at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, military training classes were interrupted only to be resumed in 1943.

1944

During the centennial of the armed forces in 2018, events were held throughout the year, including a military parade in Gomel and celebrations in Vitebsk. Although a national holiday, Independence Day is primarily an armed forces celebration which honours those who took part in the Red Army's 1944 Minsk Offensive.

1978

It was established as the Museum of the History of the Belarusian Military District, opened in Minsk on February 21, 1978.

1991

By early 2013 the numbers of military personnel had been scaled down nearly fourfold since 1991.

1992

The former first deputy commander and military district Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Pavel Kozlovskiy, was appointed Minister of Defence on 22 April 1992, taking over from acting Minister of Defence Colonel-General Petr Chaus.

On 8 September 1992, the Minsk Higher Military Engineering School and the Minsk Higher Military Command School (now the unified Military Academy of Belarus) were the first to take the military oath of allegiance to the armed forces, with their induction ceremony being held on Independence Square in the presence of defense minister Kozlovskii.

This was done to commemorate anniversary of the Lithuanian-Polish victory at the Battle of Orsha, which was considered to be a Day of Belarusian Military Glory. On November 3, 1992, Belarus passed the law "On the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus" defining the status, structure and guiding principles of the Armed Forces.

This oath however did not alleviate concerns regarding loyalty to Russia in time of crisis, especially since nearly 50% of all military personnel were ethnically Russian at the end of 1992. In June 1995, President Alexander Lukashenko issued a decree on the Mobile Forces.

It covers the borders with Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. ==Manpower== The Government Directive of 20 March 1992 ‘On the Establishment of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus’ founded the Belarusian army.

It was established on 20 September 1992 at its founding congress.

1993

After the introduction of presidency the law was amended twice: on September 4, 1996, and on November 9, 1999, but on the whole the law retains its initial contents. On January 1, 1993, all service personnel on Belarusian soil were required to either take an oath of loyalty to Belarus, or leave.

Equipment included 3,108 main battle tanks (seventy-nine T-54, 639 T-55, 291 T-62, 299 T-64, eight T-80, and 1,800 T-72), 419 medium-range launchers, sixty surface to-surface missiles, and 350 surface-to-air missiles. In 1993 the 7th Tank Army was reorganised as the 7th Army Corps.

In July 1993, it was converted into a museum on the military history of Belarus.

On September 18, 1993, Deputy of the Supreme Soviet Alexander Lukashenko took part in the 2nd Congress.

1994

Also in 1995 it was given the status of a government institution of secondary special military education for young men. === Branches === ====Ground Forces==== A Library of Congress study of national ground forces said that in 1994 Belarus had ground forces of 52,500.

In 1994 the 7th Army Corps was redesignated as the 65th Army Corps, still located at Borisov. By January 1, 1995, the composition of the Belarusian ground forces had changed.

1995

This oath however did not alleviate concerns regarding loyalty to Russia in time of crisis, especially since nearly 50% of all military personnel were ethnically Russian at the end of 1992. In June 1995, President Alexander Lukashenko issued a decree on the Mobile Forces.

Logistic Elements of the Armed Forces provided Material Support, Logistic Support, Medical Support, Veterinarian Support, and Military Construction. In 1995 the Military Academy of Belarus was set up on the basis of two military educational institutions – the Minsk Air Defence and Rocket School of the Soviet Air Defence Forces and the Minsk Higher Military Command School.

Also in 1995 it was given the status of a government institution of secondary special military education for young men. === Branches === ====Ground Forces==== A Library of Congress study of national ground forces said that in 1994 Belarus had ground forces of 52,500.

In 1994 the 7th Army Corps was redesignated as the 65th Army Corps, still located at Borisov. By January 1, 1995, the composition of the Belarusian ground forces had changed.

1996

After the introduction of presidency the law was amended twice: on September 4, 1996, and on November 9, 1999, but on the whole the law retains its initial contents. On January 1, 1993, all service personnel on Belarusian soil were required to either take an oath of loyalty to Belarus, or leave.

By June 1996, they comprised a headquarters in Vitebsk, two brigades drawn from the 103rd Guards Airborne Division, the 38th Independent Mobile Brigade (Brest, Belarus), an air transport regiment, and communications, logistics, and engineer units. Membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States, as well as the 1996 treaty on the Union of Russia and Belarus and the Treaty of the Formation of a Union State in 1999, confirmed a close partnership with Russia.

1999

After the introduction of presidency the law was amended twice: on September 4, 1996, and on November 9, 1999, but on the whole the law retains its initial contents. On January 1, 1993, all service personnel on Belarusian soil were required to either take an oath of loyalty to Belarus, or leave.

By June 1996, they comprised a headquarters in Vitebsk, two brigades drawn from the 103rd Guards Airborne Division, the 38th Independent Mobile Brigade (Brest, Belarus), an air transport regiment, and communications, logistics, and engineer units. Membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States, as well as the 1996 treaty on the Union of Russia and Belarus and the Treaty of the Formation of a Union State in 1999, confirmed a close partnership with Russia.

2000

The Territorial Defence system was established in the early 2000s.

2004

Air Force equipment included in 2004 260 fighter-ground attack/training aircraft and 80 attack helicopters.

Officially declared a public holiday by President Lukashenko on 25 March 2004, it has traditionally been honoured with a wreath laying ceremony by the President of Belarus on Victory Square.

2005

In December 2005, Belarus bought 10 L-39C jet trainer aircraft from the Ukraine, and in 2017 a contract have been signed to buy 12 Su-30SM fighters.

From October 2005 to January 2015, the Republican Council of the BSO was headed by retired Lieutenant General E.

2006

In 2006, four batteries (divizions in Russian terminology; about 6 systems each) of S-300 anti-aircraft systems were acquired from Russia to reinforce the Joint CIS Air Defense System.

2007

By 2017, the number of mechanised brigades had been further reduced to four, with two at full strength and two at reduced strength. ====Air Force and Air Defence Forces==== In 2007 the Air Force and Air Defence Force of Belarus (AF & ADF) consisted of 18,170 personnel (two fighter/interceptor bases, four FGA/reconnaissance squadrons, one transport air base, training aircraft, and attack and support helicopters, SAM units).

In 2014 and 2015, the special forces of the Nigerian Army were trained on the territory of Belarus, with the Belarusians training the Nigerians in counterterrorism. In 2007, an agreement was signed in Caracas with Venezuela, according to which Belarusian military specialists for the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela were developing a unified air defense and electronic warfare system.

2012

Weapons storage bases that have been disbanded include the 29th, 30th, 193rd, and the storage base that used to be the 8th Guards Tank Division at Marina Gorka. In 2012 it was reported that there were six mechanised brigades in the Ground Forces: three full-strength, the 6th (Grodno), 11th (Slonim), and 120th Guards Mechanised Brigade at Minsk.

2013

By early 2013 the numbers of military personnel had been scaled down nearly fourfold since 1991.

As of autumn 2013, there were at least two Belarusian advisers in Yemen at the Ministry of Defense.

2014

In February 2014, Belorusskaya Voyennaya Gazeta, the official publication of the Ministry of Defense revealed that the Belarusian Armed Forces contains about 59,500 personnel, including 46,000 soldiers and 13,000 civilians. == Personnel == === Military commandants === The military commandants of the Armed Forces of Belarus are regional administrations tasked with overseeing Belarusian regiments in the commandant's territory.

In 2014 and 2015, the special forces of the Nigerian Army were trained on the territory of Belarus, with the Belarusians training the Nigerians in counterterrorism. In 2007, an agreement was signed in Caracas with Venezuela, according to which Belarusian military specialists for the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela were developing a unified air defense and electronic warfare system.

2015

In 2014 and 2015, the special forces of the Nigerian Army were trained on the territory of Belarus, with the Belarusians training the Nigerians in counterterrorism. In 2007, an agreement was signed in Caracas with Venezuela, according to which Belarusian military specialists for the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela were developing a unified air defense and electronic warfare system.

From October 2005 to January 2015, the Republican Council of the BSO was headed by retired Lieutenant General E.

2016

During an address by President Alexander Lukashenko on 18 February 2016, he announced the allocation of arms and to the territorial forces and the minimum and maximum amount of district troops ranging from one company and a battalion.

The MBTs are of Russian type T-72, T-62, and T-55, the APCs and IFVs are of Russian type MT-LB, BMP-2, BMP-1, and the BMD-1, and Russian type trucks are the GAZ-66 and the KAMAZ-6560. While the IISS Military Balance 2016 listed 69 T-80s in service, by 2018 the listing had been removed, and the only MBTs listed were 527 T-72 as well as 5 T-72B3. The Air Force is equipped with MiG-29 fighters, Su-25 attack aircraft, as well as Mi-8, Mi-24, and some old, Polish built Mi-2 helicopters.

2017

Being a landlocked country, Belarus has no navy. In 2017 the IISS estimated that personnel in the armed forces numbered 48,000.

By 2017, the number of mechanised brigades had been further reduced to four, with two at full strength and two at reduced strength. ====Air Force and Air Defence Forces==== In 2007 the Air Force and Air Defence Force of Belarus (AF & ADF) consisted of 18,170 personnel (two fighter/interceptor bases, four FGA/reconnaissance squadrons, one transport air base, training aircraft, and attack and support helicopters, SAM units).

In December 2005, Belarus bought 10 L-39C jet trainer aircraft from the Ukraine, and in 2017 a contract have been signed to buy 12 Su-30SM fighters.

Mikulchik, and until November 2017 was led by retired Major General V.

2018

Although large in numbers, some Western experts consider some of it outdated. "The Belarusian armed forces receive around 100 brand-new and upgraded systems a year", said in late July 2018, Belarusian Deputy Minister of Defence for Armament and Chief of Armament Major General Sergei Simonenko.

The MBTs are of Russian type T-72, T-62, and T-55, the APCs and IFVs are of Russian type MT-LB, BMP-2, BMP-1, and the BMD-1, and Russian type trucks are the GAZ-66 and the KAMAZ-6560. While the IISS Military Balance 2016 listed 69 T-80s in service, by 2018 the listing had been removed, and the only MBTs listed were 527 T-72 as well as 5 T-72B3. The Air Force is equipped with MiG-29 fighters, Su-25 attack aircraft, as well as Mi-8, Mi-24, and some old, Polish built Mi-2 helicopters.

The Military Balance 2018 listed a brigade with the S-300P and a brigade with the S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator/SA-12B Giant). == Military cooperation == === CSTO === === Military advisors === The armed forces have sent their military specialists to countries such as Côte d'Ivoire, Venezuela, Libya, Yemen and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, acting both officially and secretly.

During the centennial of the armed forces in 2018, events were held throughout the year, including a military parade in Gomel and celebrations in Vitebsk. Although a national holiday, Independence Day is primarily an armed forces celebration which honours those who took part in the Red Army's 1944 Minsk Offensive.

2020

In February 2020, ten Belarusian military instructors arrived in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire), where they were stationed at the Agban military base, which is occupied by one of the country's national gendarmerie units. == Institutions and special units of the armed forces == === Museum of Military History of Belarus === The Museum of Military History of Belarus (Музей военной истории Беларуси) is located in the Pyershamayski District of Minsk.




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