MINSK. July 11 (Interfax) - New Special Forces units of the Belarusian Internal Troops have reported for duty, Belarusian Deputy Interior Minister, Internal Troops Commander Nikolai Karpenkov said.
"In line with the agreement with our head of state, new Special Forces units have been created within the Internal Troops to strengthen our combat capabilities during a special period. The purpose of these units is to carry out combat operations and fight sabotage and reconnaissance groups and illegal armed formations during the special period. Each day, these units patrol our border areas and provide support to our operational personnel," Karpenkov was quoted as saying by the BelTA state news agency on Tuesday.
Three detachment have already been formed in Brest, Gomel and Grodno, he said.
"These units were formed literally in early May. They are already combat-ready and are fulfilling their combat tasks. The detachments are made up of contract servicemen who have completed at least five and a half years of service within our interior [ministry's] Internal Troops. The units have been equipped, kitted out, and trained in light of the experience of the special military operation in Ukraine," Karpenkov said, adding that the "troops are armed with modern weapons and supplied with special hardware, including thermal imagery scopes and sights and drones."