June 23, Pozirk. Ivan Tertel, chief of the Belarusian Committee for State Security (KGB), in a recent interview emphasized Belarus’ role in prisoner swaps between Russia and Ukraine and his country’s contribution to de-escalation, without elaborating on Minsk’s continued support for the Kremlin’s war effort.
Belarus provides immediate medical assistance to wounded Russian and Ukrainian prisoners without treating anyone as a foe, he told a state-run TV station in an interview released yesterday evening, noting that not a single seriously wounded Russian or Ukrainian soldier died in Belarus.
“Many wounded stay [in Belarus] for further treatment until they can be safely transported. Therefore, hospitals in the border areas and other clinics are filled to capacity with this group of patients,” he added, noting that Russia and Ukraine have expressed gratitude to Belarus for its services.
Exchanges of those killed in action are psychologically and physically hard for the personnel involved, Tertel said, noting that people work for days handling bodies.
KGB agents, doctors, rescuers and local officials provide assistance in organizing prisoner swaps, he said. Belarusian companies help with transportation, food and infrastructure, he noted, adding that a special rail link has been launched recently for the purpose.
In February 2022, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine. Authorities in Minsk denied the Belarusian army’s involvement in combat operations but allowed Russian troops to attack Ukraine from Belarus on multiple occasions and provided infrastructure and other support.
At least 287 Belarusian state-owned enterprises supply goods for the Russian army, an investigation by journalists found. Belarus supplies components for Russia’s Kh-69 latest-generation air-to-surface cruise missiles, which have been often used to attack Ukraine, according to Andrii Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office.
