- Belarus redeploys military forces towards its border with Ukraine.
Ukraine accuses neighboring ally Belarus of gathering troops near its border, as reported by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry on Sunday. Intelligence services claimed they noticed Belarus focusing a substantial number of forces in the Gomel region close to the Ukrainian border, under the pretext of military drills.
Kiev advised Belarus to avoid a "regrettable blunder" under Russian influence. The Belarusian army should cease these "uncooperative actions." The Foreign Ministry urged Belarusian soldiers to withdraw their troops from the border, maintaining a distance longer than the range of Belarusian missile systems.
Wagner mercenaries in Belarus?
Kiev also detected the existence of Wagner fighters, a Russian private military group, in Belarus. Some of these soldiers found refuge in Belarus following the failed rebellion led by their leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in Russia, back in June 2023.
Kiev viewed the border region military exercises as a potential threat to "international security" due to the proximity of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The Foreign Ministry in Kiev emphasized, "Ukraine has never, and will never, instigate hostile actions against the Belarusian people."
The Foreign Ministry's statement was made amidst Ukrainian advancements in Russia's border region of Kursk. Since August 6, Ukraine reported significant territorial gains there. Meanwhile, Russia continued its expansion in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine discusses Kursk region progress
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on Sunday evening, referring to a discussion with the commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky, stating that Ukrainian troops had made further advancements in the Kursk region. "By one to three kilometers. We have taken control of two additional villages," Zelenskyy said in his evening message. "Combats are ongoing in another village."
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko maintains close ties and support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. His country is politically and economically reliant on Russia.
The EU accuses Belarus of using its territory as a launchpad for Russian troops. Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia positioned massive military formations on Belarusian territory close to the Ukrainian border, under the guise of military exercises.
The following statements from Kiev suggest concerns about potential threats to international security in the border region due to the presence of Wagner mercenaries and Belarusian military activities. Kiev's Foreign Ministry asserted, "We have detected the existence of Wagner fighters in Belarus and view the border region military exercises as a potential threat to international security due to the proximity of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant."
