Regional Executive Committee meeting: analysis of the implementation of defense legislation in the Vitebsk region

The most important functions of local authorities include mobilization work, organizing youth training for service in the armed forces, and military-patriotic education of the population. According to Oleg Matskevich, First Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, the current situation indicates omissions in this area, the consequences of which can be seen on the streets today.

– This requires improving activities, dictates the need to look at some of its aspects from a different angle and in a modern context. Special attention should be paid to improving the quality of military-patriotic education, improving its forms, taking into account the development of information technologies and the specifics of information consumption by the modern audience, – emphasized Oleg Matskevich.

In recent years, the number of pre-conscription youth and conscripts in the Vitebsk region has been steadily decreasing, which is due to demographic processes in the region, stated Ruslan Shkodin, the regional military commissar. In addition, data from medical examinations of young men indicate a steady trend of an increasing number of citizens deemed unfit for military service within the total conscription resources. In turn, this directly affects the fulfillment of the decree on conscription for active duty and service in the reserve in terms of manning the armed forces and military formations.

– It should be noted that the district and city conscription commissions are working effectively, thanks to which there have been no instances of illegal conscription of citizens entitled to deferment or exemption in the region in recent years, – noted Ruslan Shkodin.

For example, the spring conscription campaign of 2020 took place in a challenging epidemiological situation. However, even under such difficult conditions, the conscription commissions of the Vitebsk region achieved good results, in particular, they prevented cases of COVID-19 infection among conscripts and the transfer of infection to military units.

The deficit of conscription resources dictates the need to adjust the legislation on the military organization of the state regarding deferrals for active service. This made it possible to prevent a decrease in the number of conscripted citizens against the backdrop of declining mobilization resources, noted Ruslan Shkodin.

In addition, several years ago, the system of professional and psychological selection of conscripts underwent cardinal changes. Today, these functions are assigned to conscription commissions established within local executive authorities. Based on the results of such selection, future soldiers are assigned to military units. The main element of the new testing procedure is special software. Its operation requires modern computer equipment, which is not always available to the commissions. These shortcomings must be eliminated, stated the military commissar.

Military-patriotic clubs and associations play an important role in shaping the attitude of youth towards the army, as they have managed to combine military-patriotic education with the best forms of army and physical training. Authorities, educational institutions, military units, and public organizations actively cooperate in this direction.

— Many joint patriotic events are held, however, I consider the work to be ineffective, as evidenced, in particular, by youth surveys on their attitude towards the army. Performing military service can be compared to an act of self-denial, which to some extent testifies to the patriotism of citizens, — believes Ruslan Shkodin.