Belarus Forms New Airborne Troops

Reference News Network reported on August 7 According to the German "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" website on August 3, Belarus is forming a new airborne force just about 40 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The 37th Independent Air Assault Brigade will be stationed near Gomel.

This unit is part of the special operations forces of the Belarusian military. Its commander, Alexander Ilyukevich, stated on Belarusian military television that the officers have been selected and the soldiers have been conscripted.

Ilyukevich introduced, "We have begun to form the unit. One battalion has already been completed." He stated that a second battalion will be formed by 2026, and in addition, artillery, air defense, and reconnaissance units, as well as other operational support forces, will also be established.

According to the Ukrainian media platform "United 24," Ilyukevich announced plans to station troops near Gomel as early as February this year. This new combat brigade is expected to be stationed at its permanent location by 2027. The current focus is on personnel allocation, the formation of various units, and the necessary infrastructure development.

Belarusian President Lukashenko ordered the deployment of special forces along the Ukrainian border on July 22. According to the "United 24" platform, he claimed that this move is aimed at defending the country's territory, rather than preparing for an offensive. Belarus is regarded as one of Russia's closest allies. (Translated by Jiao Yu)