The first Russian soldiers of the new joint armed forces with Belarus announced days ago have arrived in that country Belarusian officials announced on Saturday (15).
“The first platoons of Russian soldiers forming the regional force have arrived in Belarus,” the Belarusian Defense Ministry said in a statement, without specifying the number of troops Moscow has dispatched for this purpose.
The ministry released footage showing military trains and trucks and Russian soldiers being greeted by women dressed in traditional costume, holding bread and salt, a tradition of Slavic hospitality.
On Monday (10th), President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko accused Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine of preparing “terrorist” attacks and an “uprising” in his country and announced the mobilization of these regional forces.
Belarus claims that this force is only defensive and is trying to ensure the security of its border, while Minsk accuses Kyiv of preparing an offensive.
Asked about the size of this new force on Friday, Lukashenko said the Belarusian army and its “about 70,000 people” would be the “base”. It was not specified how many Russian soldiers will take part.
“There is no need to ask Russia about 10,000 or 15,000 people now, because there are other problems there that you know about,” he said in an interview with Russian television.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday accused Russia of wanting to “go to war” with Belarus and called for a G7 international observation mission on the border between his country and its northern neighbor.
Belarus, Russia’s ally in its conflict with Ukraine, has offered its territory to the Russian army to launch its offensive in February, although Belarusian forces have not yet taken part in the fighting on Ukrainian territory.
The entry of Belarusian forces into the conflict would mean a new escalation.
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© Agence FrancePresse