BelPol Exposes Belarusian Factories Producing Shell Components for Russian Defense Industry

The Belarusian opposition has exposed enterprises within the Belarusian defense industry, specifically factories producing components for 152 mm artillery shells and 122 mm rocket shells for the Grad multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) for the Russian defense industry.

The list of companies was published by investigators from the community of former Belarusian security officials BelPol.

In total, 120 enterprises and entities for which evidence collection has been completed were included in the list. All the information gathered was shared with partners in the European Union, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine to initiate sanction procedures and impose restrictive measures.

This includes not only manufacturers of weapons and ammunition for the Russian military-industrial complex—the list also includes organizations involved in sanctions-evasion schemes.

Production of ammunition for the Russian Federation

A wide range of companies is involved in the production of 122 mm rocket shells for the Grad multiple launch rocket system, manufacturing unnamed components for these products. These include the Legmash Plant, MTZ, the Minsk Termoplast Plant, BAZtub, as well as Olsa and SZOS.

They supply components to the Russian enterprises JSC B.L. Vannikov Machine-Building Plant SHTAMP and NPO SPLAV, where the final assembly of the rocket projectiles takes place.

A separate group consists of enterprises that supply blanks and basic components for the same 122 mm rockets—the Belarusian Metallurgical Plant and BMZ. Meanwhile, Tekhnika Svyazi, GZLiN, BATE, and Belaz perform machining of components for 122 mm rocket projectiles.

Manufacturers of individual components for 122 mm rockets include the Molodechno Powder Metallurgy Plant, which produces fuses for 9M22U rockets, the Precision Electromechanics Plant, which assembles the tail section, and the Minsk Gear Plant, which produces the front frame of the rocket projectile.

Enterprises manufacturing launcher components are also involved in the production and maintenance of the Grad MLRS. These include Minotor Service, Pinsk Plant of Small Mechanization Equipment, and Agat Electromechanical Plant, which supply relevant components to the Russian Federation for the repair and production of new MLRS systems.

In the segment of 152 mm artillery shells, the Minsk Bearing Plant manufactures 152 mm shell casings, which are supplied both to repair facilities that refurbish old shells and to ammunition manufacturers in Russia.

In addition, companies providing technological processes or auxiliary components are involved in the production of 152 mm artillery shells. NPO Center manufactures conveyors for filling with explosive material, and the IK-2 plant produces crates for their transportation—both work for Russian customers.

Furthermore, construction of an ammunition production plant has been underway in Belarus since 2023, intended to meet the needs of both the Belarusian and Russian armies.

The plant is scheduled to launch in December 2026. The product range includes the production of up to 180,000 152 mm shells and 270,000 122 mm rocket-propelled shells in a three-shift operation.