Belarus and Russia began military air exercises Monday, touted by Minsk as “defensive,” to prepare for possible combat situations, an announcement amid growing concerns Moscow is pushing its ally to join the offensive in Ukraine .
In a message published on the Telegram account of the Belarusian Defense Ministry, a senior National Security Council official assured that the maneuvers, which are expected to last until February 1, are “purely defensive in nature”.
“There will be a number of actions to prepare our Air Force and the Russian Air Force to conduct relevant combat missions,” Pavel Muraveyko added, noting that the exercises would include “air reconnaissance” and “air reconnaissance.” diversion of air strikes.
\ud83d\udeec 8 fighter jets and 4 cargo planes arrive in Belarus from Russia, most likely for aviation exercises https://t.co/YkhLVnvC3m
— Ukrainska Pravda in English (@pravda_eng) January 16, 2023
At least according to the Ukrainian online newspaper Ukrainska Pravda eight fighter planes and four cargo planes arrived at Baranavichy Air Base in Belarus this Sunday from Russia.
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Fear of a new attack on Kyiv via Belarus
Before the start on February 24 of the so-called “military special operation” in Ukraine, the Russia assembled soldiers Belaruswhere military activities have multiplied. Moscow had used its allied country as a rear base to launch an offensive against Kyiv in particularover northern Ukraine.
The situation is raising fears in Kyiv and the West that Russia is leaning on Belarus to launch a new ground attack in the region, a scenario that theUkraine is preparing as requested by its President last week Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Moscow denies having pressured Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to play a more active role in the conflict. Minsk reiterates that it does not want to intervene directly.