Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko explained why the recent snap readiness inspection of the Armed Forces was announced directly, without prior notification to the General Staff or the Defense Minister as he hosted a meeting to discuss the social and economic development of Vitebsk Oblast, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that after the announcement of the Armed Forces inspection, the self-exiled opposition began spreading disinformation: “Oh, he doesn't trust the Defense Minister, he doesn't trust the General Staff.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that after the announcement of the Armed Forces inspection, the self-exiled opposition began spreading disinformation: “Oh, he doesn't trust the Defense Minister, he doesn't trust the General Staff.”
“I trust everyone. But this is a snap inspection conducted by the Commander-in-Chief. And I want to see how the General Staff and the Defense Ministry will act during this snap inspection,” the president emphasized. This is precisely the essential difference between a snap inspection and any other inspections also conducted in the Armed Forces.
The head of state emphasized that he had previously warned the military on multiple occasions that they must always be prepared for any development of events, including actions in the event of war. The president had been briefed on the corresponding combat readiness, which was why it was decided to conduct this inspection.
In accordance with the principle of a snap inspection, the president signed a directive classified as “secret” which outlined the plan for the upcoming event. State Secretary of the Security Council Aleksandr Volfovich received a sealed package containing the document and then proceeded to a military unit designated by the head of state. On the president's instructions, Chairman of the State Control Committee Vasily Gerasimov was also involved in conducting the inspection.
In accordance with the principle of a snap inspection, the president signed a directive classified as “secret” which outlined the plan for the upcoming event. State Secretary of the Security Council Aleksandr Volfovich received a sealed package containing the document and then proceeded to a military unit designated by the head of state. On the president's instructions, Chairman of the State Control Committee Vasily Gerasimov was also involved in conducting the inspection.
“That was why it bypassed the General Staff and the Defense Minister. However, the Defense Minister was immediately informed of the content of my directive," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“What did I do wrong? What if war breaks out? What will we do? I must be convinced that our military does not eat their bread for nothing,” the president emphasized.
Speaking about the preliminary assessment of the snap inspection, the head of state noted: “It seems not bad.” However, the final results, according to him, will be summed up later.
Even under challenging weather conditions, the inspection results were not bad; both equipment and personnel performed well. “Less than one percent of the equipment malfunctioned. It's acceptable. Although even that should not happen,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
An important stage for the servicemen during the inspection was a 5-kilometer forced march, which they successfully completed. However, as the president noted, they did not carry full combat gear. Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled that during his service in the border troops, soldiers, including himself, conducted forced marches of 15 kilometers with full gear. The head of state emphasized that good physical and firearms training of military personnel plays a key role in modern warfare. “If he runs well and knows how to shoot, he will survive. It's elementary. This is why I conducted this inspection,” the president said. “They ran, they were 'dying,' carrying [equipment] on their shoulders... They shot at night, they shot during the day. It was cold. So what? Is someone going to wait until it gets warm? This is war [according to the inspection scenario].”
“The officers performed better than the soldiers. That's according to preliminary data,” he added.
The president noted that the Defense Ministry, within its remit, also conducts various types of inspections. And one of them - a combat readiness inspection of units and military formations - was announced during the snap inspection ordered by the Commander-in-Chief. “They have their own program of unexpected inspections, it is ongoing now. I am observing. The Defense Minister arrived unexpectedly, putting various units and subunits on alert,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.