Russian troops arrive in Belarus to attend joint exercises with Belarussian army

Belarus announced today that it had sent an unspecified number of Russian troops to the country to take part in “combat training” exercises in February, citing escalating tensions between the West and Ukraine.

“The forthcoming operational and combat readiness exercises will take place due to the deteriorating civil-military situation worldwide, the continuing escalation of tensions in Europe, especially on the western and southern borders of Belarus,” the Belarusian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

He added that these are “unplanned” joint Belarusian-Russian high schools, but their scope, which has not been announced, does not require details, especially in neighboring countries, a reference to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine.

The military exercises will take place in two stages: the first from now until February 9, during which troops from Russia and Belarus will be deployed in “threatened areas” and will guarantee the security of state and military infrastructure and the protection of the air. space.

Then, from February 10 to 20, high schools in Belarus will hold high schools called “Determination of Union 2022”, a reference to the Russia-Belarus alliance.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko announced the exercises on Monday, without elaborating. He explained, however, that these are due to the strengthening of NATO forces in Poland and the Baltic states, on the borders of his country, as well as due to the situation in Ukraine.

Russian internet users uploaded several videos yesterday with whole trains full of military equipment, armor and other vehicles in western Russia heading to the border.

These exercises are taking place at a time when Moscow has amassed tens of thousands of troops on its border with Ukraine, raising fears of a possible invasion of the country.

SOURCE: AMPE