The Russian and Belarusian armies form a joint force to respond to tensions on the Belarus-Ukraine border. It is not yet clear where exactly the mixed unit will be stationed. Both countries began to join forces on Saturday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.
This is reported by state news agency Belta. The move is said to have been taken after the explosion on Russia’s Crimean Bridge and agreed at the informal summit of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) heads of state in Saint Petersburg.
“We have decided to create a regional union of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. The basis of this unit is the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus,” said Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko. Lukashenko left open how the troops should be composed. But it would be “not just a thousand” soldiers, reports the online edition of the German newspaper “Bild”.
Tensions at the border with Ukraine are rising
The reason for the new unity is the increasing tension on the border with Ukraine, explains 68-year-old Lukashenko. He learned through unofficial channels that Ukraine is planning attacks on Belarusian territory. It is therefore now necessary to think about how to increase the security of the country. A few months ago, Lukashenko accused the Ukrainian army of attacking facilities in Belarus.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lukashenko regularly discuss different areas in bilateral talks. Defense is part of it and is provided for in the military doctrine of the union state formed by the neighboring countries.
War entry not excluded
The “last dictator in Europe” Lukashenko had recently stated that he did not want to be involved in the war. At the same time, given the current situation, he no longer ruled it out. Since February, discussions have been going on about Belarus openly participating in the war. Although no troops from Belarus have been deployed in Ukraine to date, military cooperation cannot be denied. Russian troops are stationed in neighboring Belarus and from there fire missiles at the enemy. In addition, joint military exercises are held.
From the point of view of the Ukrainian government, Belarus is already a party to the war. At the request of “Bild”, the Ukrainian General Staff said that all existing and potential threats would be analyzed and taken into account in the corresponding decisions of the military leadership.
Belarus is heavily dependent on Russia financially and politically. For this reason, and because of the brutal crackdown on the opposition after the 2020 elections, the country is subject to Western sanctions.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
