How much safer has the Vitebsk region become? The results of the police work for 2025 have been summarized
Pressing issues raised by journalists and bloggers concerning the crime situation in the region did not stump the head of the Vitebsk region police, Maksim Subbota. He highlighted the 100% clearance rate for serious crimes, emphasizing the efforts of law enforcement officers in ensuring security.
At a press conference, Maksim Subbota noted that in 2025, the crime rate in the Vitebsk region was among the lowest in the republic and reached its lowest point in the last 5 years.
– The number of crimes committed by teenagers has decreased by 20%. This was achieved through comprehensive measures involving both parents and educators, especially during school holidays. Cases of illegal drug trafficking involving minors have decreased by 50%. A high-profile case was initiated in November 2025 in the Dubrovno district when a teenager was apprehended with two grams of mephedrone. Later, law enforcement officers seized 40 caches that the minor had managed to distribute. The profit amounted to 1,000 rubles, but now the teenager could face up to 15 years in prison, – noted the police colonel.
Drug addiction remains a pressing issue for the region. Illicit substances are primarily distributed via the internet. In 2025, law enforcement officers identified 6 drug stores, which is 4 more than in 2024.
The Vitebsk region police are keeping pace with the times, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs chatbot "We are always there" is proof of this. Residents of the region are actively using this new feature: in January alone, law enforcement officers received over 160 messages.
Numerous large-scale events are held in the Vitebsk region: in 2025, law enforcement officers ensured the safety of over 2 million 800 thousand people. This involved not only patrolling the area and controlling entry but also monitoring the situation in real-time using video surveillance systems and drones.
– In 52% of cases, the victims are elderly and senior citizens. The reason for this is a lack of awareness. In the future, we plan to involve representatives of "Belpochta" and social work specialists to enhance the level of security and protection for citizens in the digital space. Among the new initiatives, we can note cooperation with mobile system operators, who contribute to raising public awareness about potential internet threats, – emphasized the police colonel.
In 2025, 402 registered road traffic accidents were recorded in the Vitebsk region. The number of fatalities on the roads has not changed compared to 2024 – 65 people. The most problematic areas are republican highways with high-speed limits, where head-on collisions during overtaking occur most frequently. However, it can be noted that regular measures are being carried out in the region aimed at reducing accident rates.
– Regular raids by traffic police officers, monitoring and analysis of road traffic accidents, installation of additional traffic lights, road signs, and markings in dangerous sections, implementation of video surveillance cameras and automatic violation recording systems, and preventive discussions on traffic rules compliance – these measures significantly improve road safety and enable a more effective fight against offenses, – stated the police colonel.
The migration flow has significantly increased over the past year compared to the previous period. The main driver is labor migration.
– In 2025, over 1.5 thousand migrants arrived in the Vitebsk region for work. Our region traditionally attracts foreigners for education. In 2025, over 57 thousand students from 62 countries studied in the region. Foreigners are provided with consultations on issues of legalization, employment, and the right to stay in the country, – noted Maxim Subbota.
Photo by the Department of Internal Affairs of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.