Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has ordered a joint “regional grouping of forces” with Russia, raising fears of a further escalation of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko announced on Monday the formation of a joint unit of the Belarusian army with the Russian army.
Lukashenko said the move was prompted by rising tensions along Ukraine’s border with Belarus, adding that it was necessary to strengthen security.
The announcement came in the wake of Russian missile attacks in several Ukrainian cities, which killed at least 11 people and injured more than 60.
What did the Belarusian leader say?
Lukashenko said he agreed on a joint deployment with Russian President Vladimir Putin at an informal summit of heads of former Soviet states.
The 68-year-old leader did not specify where the troops would be deployed. The formation of the army began two days ago, he said, and an explosion occurred on the Kerch bridge linking Crimea to Russia.
“Without exaggerating the situation, I want you to understand: if you want peace, you must prepare for war. Always,” he said.
The Minsk dictator – who has ruled Belarus since 1994 – has claimed that Ukraine is planning an attack on his country. He said Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine were training Belarusian “radicals” to carry out terrorist attacks. He said the warning came through “unofficial channels”, who said Ukraine was planning “Crimean Bridge 2”.
Kiev has not claimed responsibility for the blast on the 12-mile (19-kilometer) strategically important Kerch Bridge, but it has celebrated it.
What is deployment?
The creation of a joint force has raised concerns that Belarus is planning a pre-emptive attack on Ukraine.
Kiev has not claimed responsibility for the blast on the 12-mile (19-kilometer) strategically important Kerch Bridge, but it has celebrated it.
What is deployment?
The creation of a joint force has raised concerns that Belarus is planning a pre-emptive attack on Ukraine.
Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Belarus allowed Russian troops into the country under the pretext of military exercises. Moscow used the country as a staging post for its invasion of northern Ukraine. Belarus is economically and politically dependent on its main ally, Russia.
There have been no indications that Ukraine is preparing to attack its northern neighbor.
The Belarusian army consists of about 60,000 people. Minsk earlier this year deployed 6 battalion-tactical groups, several thousand people, to the border area. The head of Belarus’ border guards on Sunday accused Ukraine of border provocations.
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