 In accordance with an edict of the President of Belarus in 2001, the Air Force (VVS) and Air Defence Troops were created as one of the arms of the Armed Forces of Belarus.The VVS and Air Defence Forces were intended to protect population centres such as cities and regions, as well as the administrative, industrial, economic interests of the Republic.They are also intended to defend troops from the impacts of enemy air attacks, and also against the attacks of hostile troops, as well as fire support and the guarantee of combat operations of ground forces.