Kiev said on Thursday that increasingly hostile statements by Belarus and Russia and the deployment of a joint force point to a “growing” threat from an offensive launched by Moscow from Belarus, north of Ukraine.
This comes after the creation of the new force between Minsk and Moscow, responsible for the defense of Belarus’ borders, was announced last week.
“The aggressive rhetoric of the Russian and Belarusian political-military leaders is on the rise,” Ukrainian Deputy Chief of Staff Oleksiy Gromov said during a briefing. “The threat of a resumption of the offensive of the Russian armed forces on the northern front is growing,” he said.
An offensive could be launched “west of the Belarusian border, to close off the main logistical arteries for the supply of arms and military equipment to Ukraine” from countries to the west, including Poland.
On Thursday, Belarusian security services said there is “almost every day an increase in intelligence activities from Ukrainian territory and attempts to violate Belarusian airspace,” in a statement quoted by state news agency Belta.
Minsk said on Monday that up to 9,000 Russian troops and about 170 tanks would be sent to Belarus as part of the joint force.
Belarus says the force will be solely defensive and aim to protect its borders.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of “trying to directly involve Belarus in this war” at a recent G7 meeting.
Source: DN
