Commander of Belarus’ Internal Troops summed up results of 2024, announced major transformation of military-patriotic movement
In his New Year greetings addressed to military personnel and veterans of the Interior Ministry’s Internal Troops, as well as pupils of military-patriotic clubs, Major General Nikolai Karpenkov, Belarus’ Deputy Interior Minister and Commander of the Internal Troops, summed up the results of 2024
Photo by Belarus’ Interior Ministry press service
According to the Major General, the past year ‘was difficult, but one of the most intense and responsible, productive and successful’. “It became a year of creation and development of all areas of activity for the Internal Troops,” he said, adding, “We took another step forward and organised a huge number of events for the first time. We conducted a great deal of effective work to strengthen our personnel, improve professionalism and self-discipline. We worked hard to further develop our special forces and the system of their management within the Internal Troops, creating a programme for the training and operational combat use of special forces units. For the first time in the history of the Internal Troops, special forces units were formed in each region – to account for more than 35 percent of our total strength. Significant progress was made in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, much was done to introduce modern technologies, improve the development level of our intelligence, communications and electronic warfare systems.”
Mr. Karpenkov noted that, despite a great number of combat missions and exercises, intensive training with the instructors who boast real combat experience continues. A positive trend is observed in improving the material and technical base and housing conditions: 13 state investment programmes are currently being implemented.
In addition, the patriotic education of young people has gained a new impetus: the first military patriotic club in the border region began its work in late 2024, becoming the 19th one in the structure of Belarus’ Internal Troops.
“The creation of the Molodaya Gvardiya [Young Guards] charitable foundation was another important stage in the development of this area. It has been successfully assisting to expand the geography of clubs and support each pupil in the implementation of their dreams for more than six months already. The planned major transformation of Belarus’ military-patriotic movement into a powerful youth association of a new format is likely to become another promising step,” the Major General announced some of the ambitious plans.
The Commander of the Internal Troops noted in his New Year greetings that all the achievements of the past year are the result of hard work and ‘the merit of those who honestly and responsibly perform military duty, show their best human and professional qualities’.
“Dear comrades, many thanks to each of you for the work done, high professionalism and responsibility! It is thanks to you that the citizens of our country can safely celebrate the holiday with their loved ones and make their innermost wishes," the Major General emphasised.
