Ukraine warns of Russian-Belarusian provocations near border amid military exercises
Photo: Andriy Demchenko, Spokesperson of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (facebook.com)
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine suspects possible demonstrative actions from Belarus during its joint exercises with Russia, RBC-Ukraine reports, citing Andriy Demchenko, Spokesperson of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
According to Demchenko, there is currently no sign of an active phase of the maneuvers, but border guards are closely monitoring the situation.
"There is preliminary information suggesting that they (Russians - ed.) may be held deeper within Belarusian territory when it comes to the direction of the border with Ukraine. It's difficult for me to say what this is related to. Perhaps Belarus does indeed have some concerns," the Ukrainian Spokesperson said.
In particular, this concerns the number of Russian forces that may be involved, as well as the geography of the exercises - preliminarily planned deeper into Belarusian territory, rather than near the Ukrainian border.
"One cannot rule out some demonstrative actions in the direction of our border. But our main task is to be prepared for the development of any situation," Demchenko emphasized.
The Ukrainian Spokesperson added that there are currently no Russian strike groups on Belarusian territory that could pose a direct threat.
Russia-Belarus military exercises
The day before, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin announced that the West-2025 military exercises scheduled for September would be moved deeper into the country, away from Belarus's western borders.
Khrenin claimed that in doing so, Belarus is supposedly demonstrating its readiness for dialogue, compromise, and de-escalation.
Earlier, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi did not rule out that the joint exercises between Russia and Belarus could be preparation for combat operations.
"In other words, the appearance of exercises is the most acceptable way to relocate, redeploy troops, concentrate forces in a particular direction, and form a military grouping," Syrskyi explained.
