Belarusian polar explorers have started implementing key scientific programs. In honor of the opening of the 16th Antarctic season, the national flag of the Republic of Belarus and the flag of the NAS of Belarus were raised on the flagpoles of the Belarusian Antarctic Field Base Vechernyaya Mountain. This was reported to the Presidium of the NAS of Belarus by the head of the 16th Belarusian Antarctic Expedition (16th BAE) Alexey Gaidashov.

“In the process of performing air flights, deploying vital activities and scientific programs, the personnel of 16th BAE demonstrated well-coordinated teamwork, discipline and high moral and volitional qualities. The personnel of 16th BAE are healthy, life support systems, means of transport and communication, scientific instruments and equipment are ready for further operation and are operating normally, the implementation of key scientific programs has begun. The Vechernyaya Mountain Field Base has the necessary supplies of fuel, food, and medicines. On November 18, an official event was held, in honor of the opening of the sixteenth Antarctic season, the state flag of the Republic of Belarus and the flag of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus were raised on the flagpoles of the Belarusian Antarctic Field Base Vechernyaya Mountain,” Alexey Gaidashov informed.

On October 30, 2023, the 16th Belarusian Antarctic Expedition was officially launched at the NAS of Belarus. This year, 13 people went to Antarctica under the guidance of an experienced polar explorer, a participant in all the previous 15 expeditions, Alexey Gaidashov. The expedition includes researchers from the NAS of Belarus (the Republican Center for Polar Research, the Scientific and Practical Center of the NAS of Belarus on Bioresources, the Institute for Environmental Management, the Institute of Physics), BSU, Brest Regional Clinical Hospital, and other organizations of the country. The team consists of 7 specialists who already have experience in Antarctica and 6 people are beginners. Scientific staff make up half of the expedition.