Belarus stages military drills near Ukrainian border amidst rising tensions
According to the group monitoring military activity, Biełaruski Hajun, military equipment and soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus have been concentrated at a distance of 11 kilometres from the border with Ukraine. "Special Operations Forces personnel were also spotted in the city," the report says. The reason is ongoing exercises.
The units are located in the city of Stolin in the Brest region. The units are only 11 kilometres from the border with Ukraine.
"Explosions possible"
It was added that the concentration of units is related to exercises taking place in the city on 3-4 September "aimed at suppressing the activities of illegal armed groups."
Residents have been warned that as part of the training "pyrotechnic explosions, movement of special equipment, and the introduction of traffic restrictions on five streets of the city" are possible.
Biełaruski Hajun reminds that during the tactical exercises held in August with the 6th Mechanized Brigade, they also practised "combatting illegal armed groups." Meanwhile, in June, the "Storm-Antiterror - 2024" exercises were held in the Brest region, during which interagency cooperation was practised during an anti-terrorist operation.
The monitoring group believes that the exercises taking place in Stolin "can be considered another response by the Lukashenko regime to the military operation in the Kursk region."
Is this no longer a bluff by Lukashenko? Belarusian units are getting closer to the border with Ukraine
As we have already reported, since 10 August, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Air Forces of the Republic of Belarus have begun to move to the Gomel region, bordering Ukraine. Officially, these are just exercises, but experts are wondering if this time Lukashenko might join the war.
Belarusian units moving towards the border with Ukraine are marked with the tactical sign "B". While the West wonders if Lukashenko is just provoking or actually preparing for war, Ukrainians have long been ready for any scenario. For two years, a line of fortifications has been under construction in Polesie to prevent a potential attack.
At the same time, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko stated that "he has not given the military any orders to go out and fight outside Belarus." He also assured that he would not do so. - We will fight only if they come to us with bad intentions - he said.
