A new step has been taken by Russia and Belarus to address the increasing tensions regarding Ukraine. The joint military exercise between Russia-Belarus named “Union Courage-2022”, which was announced on January 20, 2022, has been kicked off in Belarus on Thursday. Russia sent 2 battalions of S-400 and a battalion of Pantsir-S short-range missile system, 12 Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, as well as heavy and armored land vehicles to the exercise, which has been preparing for about a month.

“From February 10 to 20, the Russian-Belarusian joint operational exercise Union Courage–2022 is being held on the territory of the Republic of Belarus as part of the inspection of the reaction forces of the Union State,” the Russian Ministry of Defence said in the they statement they released. Russian Ministry of Defense has stated that the exercise was carried out at the Obuz-Lesnovsky, Osipovichi, Brestsky, Gozhsky, Domanovsky training grounds and Baranovichi, Luninets, Lida, Machulishchi military airbases and in certain areas of the territory of Belarus. Ministry also stated the purpose of the exercise as “suppressing and repelling external aggression during a defensive operation, as well as countering terrorism and protecting the borders and interests of the Union State”.