GOMEL, Belarus — Belarus is establishing a new airborne assault brigade near its southern border with Ukraine as part of an expansion of its Special Operations Forces (SOF), with the unit expected to strengthen the country's rapid-response military capabilities.
The new formation, designated the 37th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade, will be based in the Gomel region, approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
The development was confirmed by Alexander Ilyukevich, commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Belarusian Armed Forces, in comments reported by Belarusian military television and independent media on Aug. 2, 2026.
Ilyukevich said the brigade's formation is actively underway, with several military units and subunits already established.
"Several military units and subdivisions have already been formed. Personnel have already been drafted, officers have been recruited, and planned training is underway to prepare them for their intended purpose," he said.
According to Ilyukevich, the formation process began in early 2026. One battalion has already been created, while a second battalion is scheduled to be established before the end of this year. The brigade will also include combat support units, artillery units, air defense units, and reconnaissance units.
The brigade is expected to relocate to its permanent base near Gomel in 2027.
Once established, the 37th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade will become the fourth airborne assault brigade within Belarus' Special Operations Forces. The existing formations include the 103rd Separate Guards Airborne Brigade in Vitebsk, the 38th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade in Brest, and the 5th Separate Special Purpose Brigade near Maryina Gorka, south of Minsk.
The plan to create the brigade was first outlined by former Special Operations Forces commander Major General Vadim Denisenko. In August 2025, Denisenko said the decision to station the unit in the Gomel region was made to reinforce Belarus' southern direction, which he described as the country's "most restless direction" from a security perspective.
At that time, Denisenko said one battalion of what was then referred to as the 37th Separate Airborne Assault Guards Brigade had already been formed. He also announced broader expansion plans for the Special Operations Forces, including the addition of an anti-aircraft missile regiment and progress toward establishing a rocket artillery regiment.
The Special Operations Forces are among the highest-readiness ground combat units in the Belarusian Armed Forces, and the creation of the new brigade expands their presence in the southern part of the country.
Construction of a military compound for the unit in the Homiel district has also been reported in recent months as preparations continue for the brigade's permanent deployment.
The new brigade's location places Belarusian rapid-response forces close to Ukraine's northern border. Belarusian officials have previously described the border situation as stable while continuing military development in the southern region. Belarus and Russia also maintain close defense cooperation, with reports indicating that a significant share of components for Russia's Oreshnik missile system are manufactured in Belarus.
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