Various minor and not-so-minor redeployments of armed forces continue in Belarus. This reminds us of a shell game, where numerous movements of the swindler's hands conceal the true location of the target.
According to information at our disposal, on September 1, 2024, military equipment and personnel of the 19th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade (military unit 71327) of the North-Western Operational Command were transferred to the border area with Lithuania in Belarus, utilizing rolling stock and infrastructure of the Belarusian Railway.
It is noted that after training sessions with reservists called up from the reserve, as well as after preservation measures were renewed for equipment in long-term storage, the 19th Brigade proceeded to a new stage of “combat and mobilization readiness inspection”*.
Thus, on September 1, 2024, at approximately 00:30 Minsk time, a troop train (TT) was dispatched from Zaslonovo station (Minsk Division of Belarusian Railway – NOD-1) to Gudogay station (NOD-1). The train consisted of 47 railcars, including:
- 5 passenger cars (with Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus personnel);
- 4 boxcars (with equipment and ammunition);
- 38 flatcars (with military equipment, including: 10 T-72B tanks, 14 BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, Tunguska self-propelled anti-aircraft gun-missile system, MT-LBu multi-purpose armored vehicle, 5 GAZ-66 trucks with canvas covers, a GAZ-66 dropside truck, UAZ-469.).
The loading of military equipment and the formation of the troop train were carried out on August 31, 2024 at Zaslonovo station.
The movement of the troop train was carried out according to the train dispatcher's schedule, i.e., using additional (reserve) train paths in the timetable.
The troop train route: Zaslonovo → Orsha → Borisov → Kolodishchi → Shabany → Pomyslishche → Kryzhovka → Molodechno → Gudogay.
The approximate arrival time of the troop train at the final station of the route, Gudogay, on September 1, 2024 was 15:30. After the troop train arrived at the destination station, operations for unloading military equipment were carried out.
One of the probable reasons for the transfer of the specified volume of equipment and personnel is likely the “reinforcement” of the border in the western direction.
It should be noted that near Gudogay station (km 893, picket 9 of the Molodechno (Belarusian Railway) – Kyana (Lithuanian Railways – LTG) section) is Oshmyany station (km 883, picket 3 of the same section), which has a branch to Bobrovniki station (location of the Belarusian nuclear power plant and its own private railway sidings), near which the 1146th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment – military unit 97106 and military unit 7434 of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus are located.
The distance from Gudogay station to the Belarusian-Lithuanian border is less than 10 km. The Gudogay border service unit is located at Gudogay station.
We remind you that throughout August 2024, “border reinforcement” measures were carried out in the Ukrainian direction, where troop trains with equipment and personnel were dispatched:
- On August 11, 2024, a troop train with equipment and personnel of the 120th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus was dispatched from Borisov station (NOD-1) to Novobelitskaya station (Gomel Division of Belarusian Railway – NOD-4). Presumably, the train consist also included personnel from the 527th Separate Special Purpose Company of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus (part of the North-Western Operational Command of the Ground Forces);
- On August 14, 2024, a troop train with equipment and personnel of the 19th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus was dispatched from Zaslonovo station (NOD-1) to Novobelitskaya station (NOD-4);
- On August 16, 2024, a troop train with equipment and personnel of the 6th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus was dispatched from Lososno station (Baranovichi Division of Belarusian Railway – NOD-2) to Luninets station (NOD-2);
- On August 18, 2024, a troop train with equipment and personnel of the 11th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus was dispatched from Slonim station (NOD-2) to Luninets station (NOD-2).
In addition to the aforementioned movements of military equipment and personnel via the Belarusian Railway, from August 11 to the present, various military transports of relatively small volumes have been carried out on an ongoing basis in the central regions (away from the borders) of the Republic of Belarus or within a single Belarusian Railway division.
It should be noted that for the near future, there are still no signs of urgent orders for military transport via the Belarusian Railway from the Military Transportation Directorate (VOSO) of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. The operational work on the Belarusian Railway is proceeding as usual.
There is also no mass delivery of explosives and fuels and lubricants to the “Southern” or “Western” border freight stations.
* In the text of the article, italics highlight quotes in “as is” format without any corrections, including possible spelling errors
