Belarus gathers troops at border – DW – 08/25/2024

The Ukrainian government warned this Sunday (08/25/2024) that according to information from intelligence services, the Belarusian armed forces are concentrating a large number of troops and weapons in the Gomel region near the northern Ukrainian border, carrying out military maneuvers.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry elaborated through a statement that the presence of mercenaries from the Russian Wagner Group has also been detected. Kiev also warned that the maneuvers that Belarus is allegedly conducting near the Chernobyl nuclear plant endanger Ukraine’s national security and global security in general.

“We warn the Belarusian authorities not to make tragic mistakes for their country under pressure from Moscow and urge the Belarusian armed forces to refrain from hostile actions and retreat from the Ukrainian border to a distance exceeding the range of their weapons systems,” the ministry announced, warning that a response would be meted out if national borders were violated.

“All necessary measures”

The statement stressed that Kiev “will take all necessary measures to exercise the right to self-defense guaranteed by the UN Charter.” If the border is violated, concentrations of troops, military facilities and supply routes within Belarus will become legitimate targets for the Ukrainian armed forces.

Kiev assured that the personnel deployed included members of the Belarusian special operations forces, as well as tanks, air defense systems, artillery and other equipment.

Last Thursday, the Ukrainian border guard said that the situation on the border with Belarus remains stable and no changes have been detected. A week ago, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced that a third of his country’s army would be sent to the thousands of kilometers long border with Ukraine in response to the reinforcement of Ukrainian troops deployed on the border between the two countries.

dzc (EFE, AFP, Reuters)