MINSK. Feb 15 (Interfax) - Belarus and Russia, which are holding the Union Resolve 2022 joint exercise, are not threatening anyone, but simply training their troops, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin told reporters.
"The exercise is underway openly. Two press briefings were held on the eve of the exercise: for the media and accredited military attaches. The military attaches have been given an opportunity to observe the conduct of the exercise in different areas. We by no means threaten our neighboring country, but are just training our troops and seeing how we can ensure our security," the minister is quoted as saying by the BelTA state-run news agency.
Russia and Belarus are conducting a preparedness check of the Union State's rapid response forces. Troops were redeployed and a contingent was formed at the first stage, which ended on February 9, and the Union Resolve 2022 exercise is taking place at the second stage, between February 10 and February 20.
The exercise involves Belarusian forces and units of the Russian Eastern Military District, Aerospace Forces and Airborne Forces. S-400 Triumph long-range air defense missile systems, Pantsir-S short-range air defense missile systems, Sukhoi Su-35 fourth-generation multirole fighter jets, and Su-25SM attack planes were deployed from Russia to Belarus.
The exercise is taking place at several locations across Belarus: four training ranges (Obuz Lesnovsky, Osipovichi, Brest, and Gozha), several terrains and four airfields (Baranovichi, Luninets, Lida, and Machulishchi).
The exercise is underway amidst a crisis in Russia-NATO relations. The United States, other NATO countries and Ukraine have claimed that a concentration of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border indicates the threat of Russian invasion.
The Belarusian General Staff has said that the Russian troops would leave the country when the exercise is over.