Weeks after Łukašenka’s no-complications assessment, defense minister warns of probable “armed provocations” from Ukraine
August 16, Pozirk. Belarus “has been at the center” of global geostrategic interests and is “fully prepared” to counter any threats, Alaksandar Łukašenka has told his security officials.
His upbeat conclusion followed an alarmist report from Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin who warned about the danger of armed provocations against Belarus from Ukraine.
“The situation in the southern operational direction remains tense,” the defense ministry’s press office quoted Chrenin as saying.
The defense minister’s remarks stood in sharp contrast with optimistic assessments made by the Belarusian ruler three weeks before Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk province.
“Now we have no complications with the Ukrainians, and I hope there will be none,” he said during a visit to the 56th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment in the Brest region on July 13. Łukašenka even ordered his troops to return from the Belarusian-Ukrainian border to their permanent bases.
Meanwhile, today Chrenin pointed out that Kyiv continues to beef up security, deploying special operations units near the Belarusian border and conducting reconnaissance with drones. He noted attempts to violate Belarusian airspace.
Armed Ukrainian units may be plotting provocations together with Belarusian volunteers fighting against Russia, the general warned.
On August 10, amid the Ukrainian offensive in Russia’s Kursk province, Łukašenka accused Kyiv of violating the Belarusian airspace with drones and sent back his troops to the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.
Ukraine has not reported any tension at its shared border with Belarus.
Łukašenka casts Belarus as victim amid Ukrainian Kursk push
- Politics, SocietyBelarusian community center in Tbilisi shutting downThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsMinsk set to sell local second-hand clothes amid sanctions – leaked documentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics, SocietyOpposition politician: some 250,000 Belarusians moved to Poland since 2021The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLithuania reports spike in illegal Belarus-EU crossingsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition politician discusses human rights with new UN special rapporteurThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Germany news, PoliticsLeipzig prosecutors halt check of German politician’s exploitation of prisoners in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsProsecutor General set to try another dead Nazi criminalThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: three arrested in crackdown on solidarity networksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBAJ and other media organizations support Georgian journalistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyRussian, Kazakh oil deliveries via Druzhba pipeline halted – ReutersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBusiness news website inaccessible in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsTwo regional chats recognized as "extremist groups"The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyViciebsk mall fire: woman with inhalation injury transferred to capitalThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, PoliticsEstonia does not recognize the upcoming presidential election in Belarus – foreign ministryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SportSkating union allows neutral athletes from Belarus to compete in Olympic qualifiersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsKGB designates nine people as terroristsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyOpposition condemns attack on Kalinoŭski program head in WarsawThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, Politics
- Economy
- EconomyBiełstat: Belarusian companies’ CapEx up 23.7 percent in January-NovemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyDiplomats evacuate 22 Belarusians from SyriaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPoland main target of illegal Belarus-EU crossings in DecemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsReprisals: one more journalist in prison, news agency branded extremist groupThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SecurityNuclear plant disconnects power unit from gridThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarusians deserve to see real European leadership, EP president saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsHouse seized from ex-presidential hopeful Capkała up for sale at auctionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy