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Fact-Check: Do Belarusian Fire Truck Ladders Really Outshine German Ones?
The Weekly Top Fake team compared the specifications of domestic and imported products.
During a tour of the “Pozhsnab” factory in Borisov, Belarus, Oleg Deryabin, the head of the plant, told Alexander Lukashenko that Belarusian ladders were of higher quality than German ladders. The Weekly Top Fake team compared the features of both domestic and imported ladders, discovering that Deryabin’s claim was unfounded.
Aleksandr Lukashenko was shown a fire truck equipped with a Belarusian ladder during his visit to the “Pozhsnab” plant. In a video shared by BelTA on November 10, 2024, Deryabin emphasized a key selling point:
“And here’s the most important feature that even German ladders lack. Our basket has a load capacity of 300 kg, while German ladders only support 200 kg. What does that mean? German ladders can hold 200 kg. Our rescuers say, ‘Sure, 200 kg is nice, but it only accommodates two rescuers with breathing apparatus — leaving no room for the person being rescued.’”
However, the Weekly Top Fake team investigated the specifications of the Belarusian ladder and compared them with similar equipment from German manufacturers. Notably, the Magirus company, known for its advanced lifting systems, offers ladders with a maximum working height of 32 meters and basket load capacities of 300 kg and 400 kg — showing that German models not only match but can exceed Belarusian capabilities.
Furthermore, industry leaders in fire truck manufacturing are often identified as Austrian and Finnish firms. For example, Austrian company Rosenbauer produces hydraulic ladders that reach heights of over 60 meters and support load capacities of up to 500 kg. Similarly, Finland's Bronto Skylift provides ladders with the same load capacity but boasts record-breaking heights of over 110 meters.
Preparations for the project began in 2017, and the decision to fund its construction from the Polish budget was made three years before Trump’s announcement.
