Ukraine bracing for possibility of another Russian invasion via Belarus
- Ukraine’s leadership discussed border security following a flurry of military activity in neighbouring Belarus, an ally of Moscow
- Analysts are sceptical that Belarus drills are cover for an attack or that it would send its troops to join the war
Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov told CNN that his country’s forces are preparing for the possibility of another Russian ground invasion via Belarus, which is closely allied with Moscow and has held military drills near Ukraine’s northern border in recent days.
“We have to be concerned,” Reznikov said, adding that Belarus is not a “friendly neighbour”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and top military officials discussed moves to ensure border security at a meeting of the supreme command on Wednesday, the president’s office said.
The office placed particular emphasis on the moves to secure the border in a statement issued after the meeting, without saying which part of the border was focused on.
“The recent activities of the enemy and the way to confront it were … analysed. Particular attention was given to ensuring the security of Ukraine’s state border,” it said.
Belarus has already been used as a launching pad for Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and has faced sanctions from Western countries as a result. The country’s authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, is widely viewed as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s puppet.
Belarusian and Russian troops participated in joint military drills in the days leading up to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February, and there are concerns that recent exercises could signal another assault is on the horizon.