LONDON. British military officials said the presence of Belarusian forces on the border could force Ukrainian forces to stay in the area rather than support operations in eastern Donbas.
Belarus, a close ally of Russia, said last week it plans to send special forces to three sites near the border with Ukraine, as it complained about the deployment of NATO troops in the region. Belarus has also deployed air defense forces, artillery and missile units at training grounds in western Belarus, the UK’s Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence briefing released Monday.
The ministry said that Belarusian forces were not directly involved in the invasion of Ukraine, but were used as a springboard for Belarusian attacks on the Russian cities of Kyiv and Chernihiv. Russia also launched aircraft and missiles from Belarus.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko “probably balances support for a Russian aggression with a desire to avoid direct military intervention with the risk of Western sanctions, Ukrainian retaliation and possible armed resentment. Belarusian forces,” he said.
(1/5) After the exercises earlier this month, Belarus announced that it has deployed air defense units, artillery and missiles at training areas in the west of the country, along with special operations forces on the Ukrainian border.
– Ministry of Defense (@DefenseHQ) 16 May 2022
Source: Breitbart
