And we're continuing our program. Large-scale joint exercises Zapad-2017 are coming to an end in Russia and Belarus. Almost 13,000 soldiers and hundreds of units of equipment participated in the week-long maneuvers. Evgeny Reshetnev covered the ending of the exercises.
The active phase of the exercises continues. The main place of action today is the Belarusian training ground 60 km from Minsk. The troops of the Union State are preparing to repel the prearranged enemy attack. The task of this tank company is to hold positions, and then go on the counteroffensive.
For the first time, the newest T-72B3 tanks participate in the military exercises. These machines, which were just adopted, have a powerful engine of 1200 horsepower, reinforced armor protection against cumulative projectiles, a modernized gun, and a rear-view camera. This is a special smoke protection, that allows the tank during a retreat to blend in with a smoke screen.
While firing a salvo fire from an ambush, artificially created earth mounds serve as cover, and constantly maneuvering, the tanks replace each other on the firing line. This tactical move in military slang is called a "tank carousel". The machines are masked by the abundant spruce branches in these woods.
Belarusian and Russian scouts, having completed a 20 km march, experienced the newest complex Strelets, also recently introduced to the troops. The system is equipped with navigation and portable radar, and identifies enemy's objects, gives their coordinates, guides to the target, and prepares data to open fire.
The main purpose of the strategic joint maneuvers, is to test the defense strength of the Union State, enter the final phase. 9 ranges were used: 3 in Russia and 6 in Belarus, artillerymen, motor-gunners, paratroopers, air defense forces, military pilots and sailors worked in close contact, the whole Baltic fleet went out to sea.
One more large-scale operation on Belarusian soil remains, where, according to the legend, well-trained extremist groups have gotten through. The division was in area of concentration, and carried out technical training then received the task to move into the area for a firing position, marched there, and took up a firing position in order to carry out the task to strike the enemy.
Today, the Commander-in-Chief of the Belarus Armed Forces, Alexander Lukashenko, will watch the culmination of maneuvers in Belarus. Dozens of foreign journalists, military attaches from 7 countries and observers from leading international organizations are invited to the training ground: NATO, the OSCE, the UN, who will have a chance to finally be sure about the defensive nature of the Russian-Belarusian exercises.
Evgeny Reshetnev, Alexander Alexandronets, Margarita Kurilova, Oleg Piletskiy. From Belarus — Vesti.
