A confidential state-run initiative is being implemented in Belarus to establish a full-scale production line for artillery and rocket ammunition, a project that could directly support the Russian army in its war against Ukraine.
The information was shared by Volodymyr Zhyhar, an official representative of the Belarusian opposition group BELPOL, in a comment to Ukrinform on December 21.
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“According to the information available to us, since November 2023 Belarus has been implementing a closed state project called ‘Uchastok,’ which provides for the creation of a full production cycle for artillery and rocket ammunition of Soviet calibers—122 mm and 152 mm. The project is strategically linked to the interests of Russia’s Ministry of Defense, as the final products are intended for export and use in the war against Ukraine,” Zhyhar said.
He explained that the project is expected to be completed by December 2026 and could substantially enhance Russia’s logistical capacity for continuing its armed aggression against Ukraine.
The initiative is reportedly based on a classified order signed by Alexander Lukashenko, as reported by Ukrinform. A specially created entity, the “Casing Products Plant,” has been designated as the main operator and is intended to become a cornerstone of a new ammunition manufacturing sector in Belarus. The plant was founded by VolatAvto and the state-owned Precision Electromechanics Plant and is overseen by the State Military-Industrial Committee of Belarus.
“We view this project as a tool for deeper involvement of Belarus in the war. This is not only about political support for Russia, but about direct material and technical assistance to its armed aggression. Given the product range and production volumes, the end consumer will be the Russian Federation,” Zhyhar emphasized.
BELPOL reports that the production site is located in the Slutsk district of the Minsk region, on the grounds of a former military arsenal near the villages of Pavlivka and Shyshchytsi. Previously, some media outlets speculated that a secret military base might be under construction there, possibly linked to the deployment of Russian strategic missile systems, including the Oreshnik complex. These assumptions were based on the scale of construction, the type of infrastructure being built, and the restricted nature of the site.
However, a BELPOL representative told Ukrinform that the actual purpose of the facility is different. He said documents obtained by BELPOL, including engineering plans, indicate that the site is dedicated specifically to establishing a full-cycle ammunition production facility rather than hosting strategic missile systems.
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“This is not a storage facility or a missile deployment area. It is an industrial site intended to ensure mass production of ammunition, operate in cooperation with Russia, and be oriented toward the needs of the war against Ukraine,” he said.
Earlier, Ukraine determined the locations in Belarus where Russia intends to station its Oreshnik system and has already passed this intelligence to its international partners, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a joint press conference with Polish President Karol Nawrocki.
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