Ukraine does not perceive any Belarusian advance
Ukraine's advance into Kursk is the largest on Russian territory since the start of the war in February 2022. Even Russia's closest ally, Belarus, is surprised and announces plans to deploy tanks to the Ukrainian border. Or perhaps not?
Ukraine sees no signs of a increased presence of Belarusian troops at their shared border. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian border guard stated that no movements or deployments of Belarusian forces have been registered in the area in recent days, contradicting reports from Minsk.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko ordered the reinforcement of troops in the Gomel and Mozyr regions in the southeast of Belarus on Saturday, claiming that Ukraine had violated Belarusian airspace during its offensive in Russian Kursk with several aerial objects. The Belarusian Ministry of Defense released a video showing tanks being loaded onto a railway transport. Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin also stated that the deployment of ballistic missiles "Iskander" and "Polonez" rocket launchers to the region had been ordered.
However, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian border guard stated that Belarus is making these claims to help Russia, aiming to put public pressure on Ukraine. If Belarus deploys tank units to the border, it could prompt the Ukrainian leadership to station soldiers to secure the border, which would be lacking in the Kursk offensive or other front sections.
Surprise for Moscow
Ukraine's advance into Kursk is the largest on Russian territory since the start of the war in February 2022. Russia seemed not prepared for this. Since then, Russia has significantly tightened security measures in Kursk and the regions of Belgorod and Bryansk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy justified the advance with the intention to put pressure on Moscow's troops and "restore justice."
Belarus is one of Russia's most important allies. From the start of the war almost two and a half years ago, the country provided its territory to Russian troops, who later invaded the north of Ukraine from there.
- Given the situation, the European Union has expressed concern about the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Belarus, calling for de-escalation and adherence to international law.
- Despite Belarus's statements, the European Union has not observed any significant troop movements by Belarus towards the Ukrainian border, raising questions about its true intentions.
