THE INTERNATIONAL TACTICAL AND SPECIAL EXERCISES OF THE ROSGUARD SPECIAL FORCES UNITS AND THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS HELD IN THE MURMANSK REGION

The "Special Purpose Traverse 2023" international tactical and special classes were held for Special Forces units of the Russian National Guard and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus. The Special Forces employees have worked out the unique skills of Arctic training in conditions as close as possible to combat missions.

The Deputy Head of the Rosguard, Lieutenant General Vladislav Ershov, on behalf of the Director of the National Guard Troops Federal Service - Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Viktor Zolotov, greeted the participants and guests of the event. In his speech, he noted that strong friendship and interaction between the Special Forces units of the two countries is no less than 20 years old. During this time, a large number of events have been held, which were highly appreciated by both the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus and the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation.

In the course of a joint tactical-special exercise conducted by the units of the "Lynx" Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR) of the Rosguard and the special anti-terrorism unit "Almaz" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, the Deputy Director of the Russian Guard, Lieutenant General Vladislav Ershov and the commander of the North-Western District of the National Guard Troops Major General Alexei Vorobyov inspected the technical means, weapons and equipment used by the units to perform their tasks.

For two weeks, the Russian and Belorussian units have been honing their skills in conducting special operations in mountainous and wooded areas in the Arctic zone. The Special Forces employees worked out the effective actions of the combat order groups in conditions of avalanche danger, when searching for victims after avalanches and orienting themselves in the terrain in the Khibiny mountain range, worked out ways and methods of survival in the difficult conditions of the Arctic zone.

Under the guidance of experienced instructors, the participants of the international training session improved their skills in climbing training, building snow shelters, as well as providing pre-hospital care in the Arctic. Particular attention during the classes was paid to the tactics of the snowmobiles operating as part of motorized maneuver groups.

The employees of both units have worked out an effective algorithm of self-rescue actions when falling into wormwood in full combat gear. In addition to working out the combat formations tactics, the Special Forces units in practice carried out rappelling on unprepared sites of the Khibiny mountain range, located at altitudes of more than 800 meters.

Thus, during the international exercise “Special Purpose Traverse 2023”, participants for the first time in Russia rappelled down from a Mi-8 helicopter of the aviation squadron of the Rosguard North-Western District to the top of Takhtarvumchorr Mountain with full Ski Tour equipment and in full combat gear.

A large-scale operation to neutralize an illegal armed formation was the end of the two-week international exercises. According to the plan of practical actions, members of the illegal armed formations carried out an armed raid on a mountain sports complex, after which they disappeared into the mountains on snowmobiles. To block and neutralize the mock enemy, the joint international groups of the special forces of Russia and Belarus moved into place.

The "Lynx" Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR) of the Rosguard rappelled down from a helicopter to a mountain peak and after that skied down to the border of the special operation. At the same time, their colleagues from the "Almaz" special anti-terrorism unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus on snowmobiles as part of motorized maneuver groups, observing the necessary disguise, blocked the camp of intruders from the forest side. After assaulting the camp, the Special Forces officers neutralized the criminals.

Lieutenant General Vladislav Ershov, Deputy Director of the National Guard Troops Federal Service of the Russian Federation, highly appreciated the level of training of the training participants, noting their high professionalism and combat skills. The Deputy Head of the Rosguard emphasized that the tactical and special classes are a significant event, where the Special Forces units demonstrated their ability to act professionally in any conditions. He recalled that the activities of the Russian National Guard Troops are one of the elements of the system for ensuring state and public security as part of the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and are aimed at performing a large number of tasks that fall within the competence of the National Guard units. Along with this, one should not underestimate the special conditions of the Arctic zone (hard-to-reach nature of the terrain, the complexity of orientation and camouflage, the harsh and unstable Arctic climate, adaptation to the Arctic region, etc.) which must be taken into account when preparing units of the Russian National Guard to carry out tasks and during their implementation in the regions of the Arctic zone.

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief drew attention to the fact that special conditions require commanders (chiefs) and personnel of the units to have certain experience, knowledge, skills and abilities that are acquired in the process of combat and professional service training. This means that Special Forces units are capable of performing similar tasks not only in the difficult conditions of the Arctic zone, but also in the winter conditions of highlands.

Lieutenant General Vladislav Ershov expressed confidence that there are still many joint events ahead, which will be held at a high organizational level, will be remembered for interesting, exciting moments, and will become a big and bright Special Forces holiday for everyone. He wished all the participants of the special tactical lesson persistence in achieving the goals and completing the tasks, honest and worthy service in the Special Forces units.