Belarusian companies produce projectiles for Russian army – report
January 20, Pozirk. Several Belarusian state-owned companies are involved in the mass production of projectiles for the Russian army, the BelPol association of former security officers said in an investigation on YouTube yesterday.
The plants involved in the production of 122 mm and 152 mm munitions are the Žhodzina-based BiełAZ heavy-duty dump truck factory (Biełaruski Aŭtamabilny Zavod) and BAZcjub steel tube plant, the Žłobin-based Belarusian Steel Works (BMZ), the Barysaŭ-based BATE automobile and tractor equipment plant, the Orša-based Lehmaš plant manufacturing a range of steel and cast iron products and the Minsk-based Precision Electronic and Mechanical Equipment Plant, which manufactures dual products and repairs armaments.
According to BelPol, the network also includes the Homiel-based Homsielmaš agricultural equipment plant, the Minsk-based MAZ truck and bus factory, the Minsk-based MTZ tractor plant, the Minsk Bearing Plant, AAT Vaviłaŭ MMZ, the managing company of the BelOMO optical sight factory, the Orša-based instrument plant, the Maładziečna-based Powder Metallurgy Plant, the Minsk-based Haryzont television set factory, Intehrał microchip factory, Płanar microelectronics factory, Amkador construction equipment plant, Termapłast plastic container plant and Dyjaprajektar, a Rahačoŭ-based manufacturer of gun sights.
A significant part of the ammunition is intended for use by Grad multiple rocket launchers, with which the Russian army shells Ukraine, BelPol said.
It recalled that Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu (now the secretary of the Russian Security Council) signed a security deal in December 2022. BelPol claimed that the document “implies Belarus’ assistance to Russia in destroying Ukraine.”
It pointed out that the signing was attended by Piotr Parchomčyk, the Belarusian deputy prime minister, and Dźmitryj Pantus, chairman of the State Defense Industry Committee.
Implementing the agreement, Parchomčyk supposedly met with Russian Trade Minister Denis Manturov on January 16, 2023, to discuss deliveries.
“From that time Pantus starts bombarding the director of the Russian joint-stock company Tekhnodinamika with requests to supply Belarus with components for 122 mm and 152 mm munitions,” BelPol said.
However, Russia was unable to supply the components because it did not have enough for the “slaughter in Ukraine,” it added, so it was decided to localize the production in Belarus.
The Belarusians promised to produce 10,000 shells of each caliber per month.
In March 2023, the Minsk-based Precision Electronic and Mechanical Equipment Plant signed a contract with Russia’s NPO Splav for the supply of 184,269 rocket shells under a Russian defense procurement order.
According to the contract, Belarus started supplying thousands of sets for 122 mm rocket projectiles from September 2023. “Every month 1,000 ready assembled shells return to Belarus. However, 12,000 sets of parts remain in Russia every month and are turned into shells for Russian Grads,” the film said.
The BMZ, BAZcjub, Lehmaš and Precision Electronic and Mechanical Equipment Plant are involved in this production chain.
BelPol reported that Belarus faced difficulties in mastering technological processes, jeopardizing the delivery plan, but BiełAZ stepped in to help solve the problems. Lehmaš changed its profile due to the war, increasing its workforce and working for the Russian army in alliance with the BMZ.
Despite aiming to produce 240,000 Grad rocket shells annually, Lehmaš struggled because of a high defect rate, which reached 70 percent by the end of 2023. Investigations were conducted to address the defects, leading to the transfer of Lehmaš to the authority of the Belarusian Defense Industry Committee, while quality control is performed by the Ministry of Industry.
BelPol revealed further plans of the Belarusian industrial complex to work for the Russian defense ministry.
In particular, it reported that the Maładziečna Powder Metallurgy Plant plans to launch production of fuses for 122 mm rockets. It is planned to increase annual production from 40,000 to 120,000 rockets in 2025–2027. The authorities labeled the fuses as “socially important products,” so the project will be fully financed from the state budget.
Overall, Belarus supplied Russia with about 155,000 projectiles in 2023–2024. In all, promised to supply 4.5 million parts and sets for rockets.
“Death trade is profitable for Łukašenka’s regime,” the investigators concluded.
