This is the first time that Wagner PMC has brought armored vehicles to Belarus

Yesterday, on July 25, the 11th convoy with fighters of the so-called “private” military company Wagner arrived in Belarus – according to the monitoring group Belaruski Gaius, this is the first time that Wagner brought their armored vehicles to Belarus.

Movement of the Wagnerian convoy in Belarus, infographic – Belaruski Hayun

According to the researchers, the convoy included at least 29 vehicles, and among them six Shchuka armored vehicles (one with a trailer), also known as Chekan, were spotted.

The Chekan armored vehicles based on the Ural 432007-0111-31 truck are typical Wagner vehicles; this reincarnation of the BTR-152 was first spotted in their hands more than a year ago, in early June 2022.

Armored vehicle “Chekan” aka “Pike” in Ukraine

At the time, it was the destroyed vehicle of the Wagnerites that was “discovered” in Ukraine; this vehicle is protected from bullets and debris and can be equipped with a turret from an APC-70.

The Wagnerites used such vehicles during their “operations” in Africa, and Chekans were also seen in the Wagner PMC units in Rostov during the so-called “Prigozhin’s march on Moscow.”

Armored vehicle “Chekan”, which was moving as part of the “Wagner” convoy, probably to Rostov, morning of June 24, 2023, screenshot of a video from social networks

So, in total, more than 3,500 Wagnerians have already arrived in Belarus, and this is a rather significant number, given that it is already more than 30% of the Belarusian army.

Moreover, Belarus may be a place for the Wagnerites to transfer to African countries, but at the same time, the option of regular raids by the Wagner PMC into Ukraine should not be ruled out.