Location for Russian aviation base will be selected by end of June

On 6 June a group of reconnoiterers will come to Belarus for choosing an aerodrome for deploying a Russian aviation base.

The Minister of Defense of Russia Sergei Shoigu told journalists about that today, BelTA reports.

“I think, within 2-3 weeks this group headed by the Commander in Chief of Russian air force will choose an aerodrome for deploying the capacities agreed. Our agreements with the Belarusian side have not experienced any serious changes. We keep moving in the set direction”, - Sergei Shoigu noted.

“As we agreed, already this year an aviation commandant’s office will emerge, and in the nearest time, we hope, first planes will arrive here, which will be a part composite part of our joint aviation base, since this all is being done according to mutual agreements and because of the necessity of the creation of such a unit at the territory of Belarus. Of course, this provides for assistance and support in developing the aviation and armed forces of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus”, - he highlighted.

We would remind that in April 2013 during his visit to Minsk the Minister of Defense of Russia Sergei Shoigu claimed that Russia would deploy an aviation base in Belarus. The first flight of fighter jets will arrive to our country already this year. It was also reported that Moscow planned to ship 4 more divisions of long range surface-to-air missile systems S-300 to Minsk.

It was assumed that the Russian aviation base would probably be placed in 80 kilometers from the border with Poland. The Defense Ministry of Russia is considering Baranavichy or Biaroza areas for deploying the aviation base.