No threat of Belarusian army invading Ukraine – Ukrainian intelligence
ALYONA MAZURENKO – WEDNESDAY, 22 JUNE 2022, 20:06
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Chief Directorate of Intelligence for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, said that there is no threat of the Belarusian army invading the territory of Ukraine during this phase of the war.
Source: Budanov on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast
Quote: "At this point, there is absolutely no threat from the Belarusian side, I can tell you this with absolute confidence. The situation is absolutely under control.
Belarus continues military training and exercises, reinforcing border security, implementing a whole host of various military measures. But none of those are aimed at conducting hostilities against Ukraine at this point. If they begin contemplating that, we will soon know about it and will take appropriate measures."
Earlier: Belarusian Armed Forces are constructing defence fortifications along the Belarusian border with Ukraine and EU countries.
In order to demonstrate the presence of Belarusian troops in the areas near the Belarusian-Ukrainian border, units of the Belarusian Armed Forces are deploying wooden dummy tanks made of wood.
General-Lieutenant Oleksandr Pavliuk, commander of Kyiv defence forces, said that new assault groups might be formed and deployed on the Kyiv and Chernihiv fronts, but the gravest threat at the moment is the threat of missile strikes on Kyiv.
Background:
- Belarusian Armed Forces are not directly involved in the Russian war with Ukraine. However, President Vladimir Putin of Russia is using the territory of Belarus to launch missiles on Ukraine.
- The invasion of the Russian troops on 24 February took place from the Belarusian territory.
- Reporters and activists frequently report the presence and movement of Russian military equipment in Belarus.
- On 10 June, Aleksandr Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed president of the Republic of Belarus, suggested that Belarusian troops may have to fight for the west of Ukraine so that it is "not lopped off by the West."
- On 15 June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy convened a meeting of the Commander-in-Chief’s office regarding the possible threat of a new invasion by Belarus, at which he issued orders to conduct a readiness check in four oblasts.
- On 17 June, Lukashenko said that he had stationed 10 military units along the border behind the border guards so that Western countries "cannot enter."
