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Weeks after Łukašenka’s no-complications assessment, defense minister warns of probable “armed provocations” from Ukraine
A picture of Defense Minister Chrenin at a training ground
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.
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