How much safer has the Vitebsk Region become? The police summed up the results of their work for 2025.
Topical questions from journalists and bloggers about the crime situation in the region did not stump the head of the Vitebsk police, Maksim Subbota. He highlighted the 100% clearance rate of serious crimes, emphasizing the efforts of law enforcement to ensure safety.
At the press conference, Maksim Subbota noted that in
Vitebsk region, the crime rate in 2025 became one of the lowest
in the republic and reached its lowest value in the last 5 years.
– The number of crimes committed by teenagers decreased by 20%. This
was achieved through comprehensive measures, involving both parents and
educators, especially during holiday periods. The number of
drug trafficking cases involving minors decreased by 50%.
A high-profile case was initiated in November 2025 in Dubrovno district, when a teenager was detained with two grams of mephedrone. Later, law enforcement seized 40 stashes that the minor had managed to hide. The income amounted to 1,000 rubles, but the teenager could now lose his freedom for 15 years, – noted the police colonel.
The problem of drug addiction remains relevant for the region.
Prohibited substances are mainly sold online. In 2025,
law enforcement identified 6 online drug stores. This is 4 more than in 2024.
The Vitebsk police keep up with the times, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs chatbot "We are always there" is
proof of this. Residents of the region actively use the new service: in January alone,
law enforcement received over 160 messages.
Many large-scale events are held in Vitebsk region: in 2025, law enforcement ensured the safety of over 2 million 800 thousand people. This involved not only patrolling the area and access control, but also real-time monitoring of the situation using video surveillance systems and drones.
Maksim Subbota, during the press conference, focused attention on changes in crime types, particularly noting the increase in cyber fraud. This criminal trend is becoming increasingly relevant in the context of society's digitalization and widespread use of internet technologies.
– In 52% of cases, the victims are elderly and senior citizens. The reason for this is a lack of awareness. In the future, we plan to involve representatives of "Belpochta" and social work specialists to increase the level of safety and protection of citizens in the digital space. Among the innovations, we can note cooperation with mobile system operators, who contribute to raising public awareness of potential online threats, – emphasized the police colonel.
In 2025, 402 registered
road accidents were recorded in Vitebsk region. The number of fatalities on the roads remained unchanged compared to 2024 – 65
people. The most problematic sections are national highways with
high speed limits, where head-on collisions
during overtaking occur most frequently. However, it can be noted that regular measures are being taken in the region
to reduce accident rates.
– Regular raids by traffic police officers, monitoring and analysis of road accidents, installation
of additional traffic lights, road signs and markings in dangerous areas,
implementation of video surveillance cameras and an automatic violation detection system,
preventive talks on compliance with traffic rules – these measures allow
to significantly improve road safety and conduct a more effective
fight against offenses, – stated the police colonel.
The migration flow has significantly increased over the past year compared to the previous period. The main driver is labor migration.
– In 2025, over 1.5 thousand people arrived in Vitebsk region for work
migrants. Our region traditionally attracts foreigners for education. In 2025, over 57,000 students from 62 countries studied in the region. Foreigners are provided with consultations on legalization, employment, and the right to stay in the country," noted Maxim Subbota.At the end of the press conference, the Head of the Internal Affairs Directorate expressed gratitude to media representatives, presenting them with flowers and letters of appreciation.