Lukashenko: Belarus should produce small arms on its own

The head of state heard a report from Chairman of the State Authority for Military Industry Dmitry Pantus and drew attention to the need to develop domestic production of small arms and ammunition.

“The war in Ukraine has shown that it is impossible to defend the country without a counter-battery system, unmanned aerial vehicles and an electromagnetic warfare system,” the president emphasized. “You must understand (Ukraine is a case in point) that not only and not so much high-precision weapons make a difference. What can really make a difference are people and conventional grenade launchers, machine guns, rifles and other types of small arms.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled that he had given an instruction to expand the production of small arms and ammunition even before the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and this task has proved to be very relevant. “The war has shown that one cannot do without it,” the head of state noted.

“We always need these weapons. And we must produce them,” the president continued. “We should not rely on anyone. It will be a game of politics. Take Ukraine. They relied on Americans, on Western Europe. Today they are not getting enough ammunition or sometimes nothing at all. President Zelensky keeps saying: “Unless you give us [weapons and ammunition], Ukraine will collapse tomorrow, and Lukashenko and Putin will march into Europe.” He is scaring them.”

“If we don't want this to happen to us, we should not rely on anyone else, we need to watch the war and draw conclusions and produce these weapons,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.