Russia sends high-ranking military representative to closest ally, Oleg Salyukov arrived in Belarus

The Russian Ground Forces commander-in-chief, General Oleg Salyukov, arrived in Belarus on Thursday with a group of Defense Ministry officials on a “working trip,” the ministry said in a Telegram post.

Saluykov visited one of the Belarusian training ranges where Russian troops are stationed, and received updates from unit commanders on operational coordination and joint combat training. The general also inspected the facilities and living conditions of the Russian troops, and spoke with the soldiers, according to the Defense Ministry.

The Russian troops are undergoing an “intensive combat training course” at the Belarusian training ranges, the ministry said, adding that they train both during the day and night. The course involves firing and tactical driving exercises, as well as psychological training and tactical medicine.

Earlier, the Belarusian Defense Ministry also confirmed that a Russian military committee led by Salyukov arrived in Belarus for an inspection. The general inspected the Russian troops stationed in Belarus as part of the joint force and “assessed their readiness to fulfill the tasks… aimed at ensuring security of the Union State [of Russia and Belarus],” a statement published on Telegram read.