MINSK. June 30 (Interfax) - Another S-400 Triumf air defense missile battalion has been put on combat duty in Belarus, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
"The effectiveness of air defense systems protecting Belarusian airspace has grown markedly today, as another S-400 Triumf battalion has been put on combat duty," the ministry said.
"This is undoubtedly a special day for both the battalion, which is going on combat duty today, and the Air and Air Defense Forces. A unit armed with modern, cutting-edge air defense missile systems, the S-400, begins its watch," Belarusian Air and Air Defense Forces Commander Andrei Lukyanovich said.
Troops have been trained to operate the modern hardware, have mastered their skills at the Kapustin Yar range, and are prepared to accomplish the Air Defense Forces' main mission, Lukyanovich said.
"It is important to be fully prepared" now more than ever, given the complicated and extremely tense military and political situation around Belarus, he said.