RT reported that the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that Moscow is transferring two S-400 Triumph air defense systems, designed to shoot down enemy fighter jets, to neighboring Belarus to participate in drills.
In a statement, officials wrote, the two S-400 Triumph surface-to-air missile complexes have completed their advance to Khabarovsk Krai in Russias Far East. The missile will be transported by rail to Belarus."
The report says that once the missile reaches the training site, Russian forces will reinforce the location as part of defense training.
The Russian S-400 missile system began development in the late 1980s and was deployed in 2007. Russia has also sold the S-400 to countries including China and Turkey, and in November, officials announced that the missile had been transferred to India.
According to international analysts, the S-400 is considered the best strategic surface-to-air missile system currently in operation. The sale of the system has been strongly warned by the US.
Russia has previously announced that the Russian military will conduct joint exercises with the Belarus military in February, as part of a review of the two countries' capability to coordinate military action.
According to Mr. Oleg Voinov, a senior military official of Belarus, the two countries will organize Union Resolve drills from February 10 to 20 and before that, the two countries' armies will "pracet the reassignment of troops and establish special forces for a short time".
Mr. Voinov also stated that one of the goals of the exercise was to practice "strengthening national borders".
