Ukraine's presidential office doesn't believe the Belarusian army will cross the Ukrainian border

Friday, 4 March 2022, 15:56

Presidential advisor Mykhailo Podoliak, a participant in Ukraine's negotiations with Russia's delegation, does not believe that the Belarusian army will join Russian invading forces in their war against Ukraine.

Source: Podolyak's briefing with the head of the Servant of the People Party Davyd Arakhamia

Quote from Podolyak: "I wouldn't exaggerate the risks from the Belarusian side.

"That is, it periodically appears that there's an activation, a mobilisation and so on. But when you check the information, today — as we're speaking — there is no mobilisation in the size that would be sufficient for Belarus to take part in the hostilities.

"That is, Belarus will not — at least for today, it won't... At least, we don't have information that it's prepared to take part in hostilities on the side of the Russian Federation. Allow me to emphasise that this is [only based on] official information.

"In other words, Belarus has offered its territory for the Russian army's infrastructure activities as part of their 'union relations'. But nothing more than that.

"For now, as of today, there is no threat of a direct invasion from Belarus, that is, them getting involved in a foreign operation".

Details: Podoliak refused to comment on information that Belarusian troops are refusing to carry out orders to participate in hostilities against Ukraine.

A representative of Ukraine's Office of the President believes that Russia is losing the possibility of support or solidarity from any country, including Belarus. 

Due to the Russian occupying forces' shelling of residential buildings in Ukrainian cities, resulting in the death of innocent civilians, no country will want to stand side by side with Russia's leaders.

However, he admitted, the situation with the current Belarusian leadership is complicated.

Reminder: Belarus's leaders allowed the Russian army to use its territory for logistical support as well as to launch at least 70 rockets at targets in Ukraine.

Background: 

  • The self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, announced on 4 March that the participation of Belarusian troops in Russia's war against Ukraine would be "a gift for the West". As Lukashenko put it, while Belarusian troops would be on Ukrainian territory, Belarus's borders with NATO would be under through of invasion.
  • The Pentagon does not have any intelligence either about the Belarusian army's preparedness to launch an offensive with Russian invading forces against the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukrainian defenders.
  • The leader of the Belarusian opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, announced that concerned citizens in Belarus had launched an anti-war movement.
  • On the morning of 4 March, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that Russian invading forces may resort to armed provocations to drag the Belarusian army into the war against Ukraine.
  • Experts at the Centre for Defence Strategies have information that individual units of the Belarusian army are concentrated on Ukraine's northern borders and have been brought to full combat readiness. Meanwhile, many Belarusian servicemen have low morale and refuse to fight against the Armed Forces of Ukraine.