Belarusian President calls for strategic approach to developing northern part of Vitebsk Oblast
15.10.2026
VERKHNEDVINSK DISTRICT (
BelTA) – We need a strategy for developing territories in the northern part of Vitebsk Oblast, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a working trip to Verkhnedvinsk District, BelTA has learned.
“What are we going to do here? Braslav, Miory, Verkhnedvinsk, Rossonsy. The north of Belarus. What is the strategy?” the head of state posed the question.
The officials’ answers on this matter, including those of the head of Vitebsk Oblast and Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Shuleiko, did not satisfy the president. The ideas were about planting more corn crops in the region and selecting earlier-maturing varieties in order to manage harvesting on time. The expectation is that this will make it possible to obtain more grain.
However, Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to the absence of a strategy as such, including with regard to local natural and climatic realities. “I don’t need any of these any more. I need economy,” the Belarusian leader emphasized. “Swamps all around. Disgraceful work on these lands. Soil is not plowed. Corn fields are swamped [referring to the state of the fields after heavy precipitation]. I don’t know how you are going to harvest it. The tractor is more expensive than that corn which you will harvest someday.”
The president noted that, given the conditions of the northern regions of Belarus, which are a zone of not even risky but critical farming, discipline and promptness are especially important. “There’s no room for talk. There must be military-style, iron discipline here. But people also need to be paid for their work,” he said.
“Only such a strategy. I see no other strategy. This region will degrade if we don't do this,” the head of state emphasized.
Aleksandr Lukashenko is directing the northern districts to work in such a way, despite all the difficulties, so that people can make a living from this land. Besides agricultural land, one of the main resources here is forests. It is not only raw material for woodworking, but also a tourism and recreational potential. The main task is for the local population to live decently.
“In order to make a living, we need to develop every sector here. We need to decide over the winter how we will work here. We need to think strategically about what to do,” the Belarusian leader said. “I need to save these districts. There are 4-5 districts here. For me, the main thing is to keep people here. To preserve this territory.”
In implementing the task of developing the northern territories, Aleksandr Lukashenko also sees a role for private business. In Verkhnedvinsk District, the head of state toured the new modern livestock enterprise Krasny Bor Agro owned by businessman Nikolai Vorobei.
This enterprise specializes in beef cattle breeding. Accordingly, land is needed for feed production. Even before his arrival, the president had carefully studied the map of the district and identified the lands that could be offered to an efficient private owner for development. Aleksandr Lukashenko called such a transfer of assets to private business an extreme option, but in this case the step is justified.
“Nikolai, if you want support, I have marked the plots of land for you to take. I am ready to transfer them to you,” the president said as he addressed the businessman, pointing to specific plots of land on the map. “Something drastic needs to be done here. This complex [the livestock complex] needs fodder. These lands must provide you with fodder. Propose a plan to me by the spring please.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko also promised support for this agribusiness on par with the general approaches. “There is no big money to spare. We will subsidize you like everyone else,” he said.
Similarly, the president expressed support for projects in woodworking and tourism. “The forest and the land are yours; tourism is yours. You can cater to people who come here to holiday. As you are already doing,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Addressing the leadership of the region and the agricultural industry, the head of state once again emphasized that he expects a clear strategy for how to develop this northern region as a whole.
“Starting from 2030, we will stop supporting Vitebsk Oblast the way we do now. This support won’t be there. We must decide on strategy, tactics, and actions,” the president said. “After 1 January, all discussions about tactics and strategy will be over. You must know which tractors to buy, how to cultivate the land, and which people will work there. God forbid that in January you start pitching your theories at me.”
“What are we going to do here? Braslav, Miory, Verkhnedvinsk, Rossonsy. The north of Belarus. What is the strategy?” the head of state posed the question.
The officials’ answers on this matter, including those of the head of Vitebsk Oblast and Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Shuleiko, did not satisfy the president. The ideas were about planting more corn crops in the region and selecting earlier-maturing varieties in order to manage harvesting on time. The expectation is that this will make it possible to obtain more grain.
However, Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to the absence of a strategy as such, including with regard to local natural and climatic realities. “I don’t need any of these any more. I need economy,” the Belarusian leader emphasized. “Swamps all around. Disgraceful work on these lands. Soil is not plowed. Corn fields are swamped [referring to the state of the fields after heavy precipitation]. I don’t know how you are going to harvest it. The tractor is more expensive than that corn which you will harvest someday.”
The president noted that, given the conditions of the northern regions of Belarus, which are a zone of not even risky but critical farming, discipline and promptness are especially important. “There’s no room for talk. There must be military-style, iron discipline here. But people also need to be paid for their work,” he said.
“Only such a strategy. I see no other strategy. This region will degrade if we don't do this,” the head of state emphasized.
Aleksandr Lukashenko is directing the northern districts to work in such a way, despite all the difficulties, so that people can make a living from this land. Besides agricultural land, one of the main resources here is forests. It is not only raw material for woodworking, but also a tourism and recreational potential. The main task is for the local population to live decently.
“In order to make a living, we need to develop every sector here. We need to decide over the winter how we will work here. We need to think strategically about what to do,” the Belarusian leader said. “I need to save these districts. There are 4-5 districts here. For me, the main thing is to keep people here. To preserve this territory.”
In implementing the task of developing the northern territories, Aleksandr Lukashenko also sees a role for private business. In Verkhnedvinsk District, the head of state toured the new modern livestock enterprise Krasny Bor Agro owned by businessman Nikolai Vorobei.
This enterprise specializes in beef cattle breeding. Accordingly, land is needed for feed production. Even before his arrival, the president had carefully studied the map of the district and identified the lands that could be offered to an efficient private owner for development. Aleksandr Lukashenko called such a transfer of assets to private business an extreme option, but in this case the step is justified.
“Nikolai, if you want support, I have marked the plots of land for you to take. I am ready to transfer them to you,” the president said as he addressed the businessman, pointing to specific plots of land on the map. “Something drastic needs to be done here. This complex [the livestock complex] needs fodder. These lands must provide you with fodder. Propose a plan to me by the spring please.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko also promised support for this agribusiness on par with the general approaches. “There is no big money to spare. We will subsidize you like everyone else,” he said.
Similarly, the president expressed support for projects in woodworking and tourism. “The forest and the land are yours; tourism is yours. You can cater to people who come here to holiday. As you are already doing,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Addressing the leadership of the region and the agricultural industry, the head of state once again emphasized that he expects a clear strategy for how to develop this northern region as a whole.
“Starting from 2030, we will stop supporting Vitebsk Oblast the way we do now. This support won’t be there. We must decide on strategy, tactics, and actions,” the president said. “After 1 January, all discussions about tactics and strategy will be over. You must know which tractors to buy, how to cultivate the land, and which people will work there. God forbid that in January you start pitching your theories at me.”