Transport Troops of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus
Organizational Overview
The Transport Troops of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus are a specialized logistics branch responsible for military movement support and transport infrastructure works across rail and road. Their mission set includes construction, operation, maintenance, and restoration of transport routes and nodes required for force deployment and sustainment, as well as task-organized support to other state bodies during emergency response when assigned.
Leadership
Commander: Major General Yuri Shaplavsky. The Commander of the Transport Troops oversees organization, training, and employment of transport formations supporting the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
Component Brigades (Order of Battle)
The branch comprises three principal brigade-level formations: 1) 30th Separate Railway Brigade (military unit 18662); 2) 36th Road-Bridge Brigade (military unit 44540); 3) 65th Automobile Brigade (military unit 28729). These formations respectively provide rail infrastructure capabilities, road and bridge construction capabilities, and military motor transport.
30th Separate Railway Brigade (military unit 18662)
The 30th Separate Railway Brigade delivers railway-focused capabilities, including construction, repair, and rapid restoration of track, sidings, and associated infrastructure (to include rail loading/unloading sites) required for military rail movements. It provides technical support to re-establish rail traffic after damage and coordinates as required with national rail authorities for planning and execution of military rail transport.
36th Road-Bridge Brigade (military unit 44540)
The 36th Road-Bridge Brigade is responsible for construction, reconstruction, and repair of roads and bridges in support of military mobility. Tasks include establishing and restoring road routes, repairing bridge spans and approaches, improving roadbeds and drainage, and emplacing temporary crossings when required to maintain ground lines of communication. The brigade can be tasked to support state emergency response for transport infrastructure restoration.
65th Automobile Brigade (military unit 28729)
The 65th Automobile Brigade provides military motor transport for personnel, equipment, and materiel. Core functions include planning and execution of convoy operations, operation of cargo and specialized transport (e.g., general cargo and tanker vehicles), and maintenance of assigned vehicle fleets to sustain routine and surge transport tasks in support of the Armed Forces.
Roles and Missions
Across the three brigades, the Transport Troops enable operational and strategic mobility by: supporting deployment and redeployment by rail and road; operating and restoring transport infrastructure following damage or disruption; providing convoys and distribution for sustainment; and, when directed, assisting civil authorities with transport infrastructure tasks during natural or man-made emergencies.
Infrastructure Interfaces
Transport Troops activities interface with national transport systems. Military rail movements and rail infrastructure works necessitate coordination with the state-owned Belarusian Railway, while road works and movement control require coordination with relevant national and local transport authorities. Such coordination ensures access to, and restoration of, key nodes and corridors used by the Armed Forces.
Training and Readiness
Public reporting and routine military practice indicate these formations conduct regular training in railway track repair and restoration, road and bridge construction tasks, and convoy planning and execution to maintain readiness for mobility support. Participation in national-level training events ensures integration of rail, road, and motor transport functions with supported combat and support formations.
Information Availability
Specific details such as exact manning levels, equipment inventories, garrison addresses, and detailed deployment patterns for military units 18662, 44540, and 28729 are not comprehensively disclosed in open sources. Where publicly available, official references identify these formations by their military unit numbers and functional roles; additional classified or unpublished specifics cannot be provided.