Belarus built base near Ukraine. Now it’s laying rail that can unload 60 wagons of military equipment

Belarus is constructing a railway system near Yakimauka, Homiel Oblast, capable of accommodating 60 wagons for transporting military equipment, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Documents from the Belarusian Association of Railway Workers confirm this development as part of a facility named "Construction of a Training Ground in Homiel Oblast," with the Military Design Institute as the client.

Minsk has supported Russia's actions against Ukraine, allowing its military infrastructure and airspace to be used by the Russian army for the ongoing war and strikes on Ukrainian cities. The base, situated approximately 40 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, will be home to three existing Belarusian air assault brigades: Vitsebsk, Brest, and Maryina Horka, none of which are located on the southern frontier.

The project features a dedicated access track for up to 60 wagons and a freight platform equipped with a ramp for unloading wheeled and tracked military assets. The precise location of the new training ground remains undisclosed. Construction of this military base began near Homiel in late 2023, and the 37th Separate Air Assault Brigade of Belarus's Special Operations Forces is anticipated to be stationed there.

This brigade comprises various units, including combat support, artillery, air defense, and reconnaissance elements, with Colonel Aliaksandr Iliukevich of the Special Operations Forces revealing that one battalion has already been formed and a second is planned for this year. The government of Alexander Lukashenka initiated this brigade to bolster the southern sector, ostensibly to counter potential threats from Ukraine.

The eastern section of the new facility is designated as a "military camp" on Belarusian state cadastral maps, while the western section is marked as a "training and tactical field."