Ukrainian president tells generals to check troops readiness at Belarus border

June 17, BPN. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered generals to check Ukrainian troops’ readiness to repel potential attacks in four of the country’s five regions bordering Belarus, said Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the Ukrainian national security and defense council.

The authorities in Minsk allowed the Russian army to attack Ukraine from Belarus. Tensions at the Belarus-Ukraine border decreased after the Russian troops had been forced to retreat from northern Ukraine. Now Kyiv suspects that Belarusian troops’ ongoing drills might be part preparations for a possible attack on Ukraine. Minsk has denied any aggressive plans. 

The Vertikal Telegram channel, linked to the Ukrainian security forces, reported that Zelensky discussed with generals on June 15 “troops readiness to repel a threat and counterattack quickly to push back [the attacking force] as far as Minsk.” Belarusian army, trained by Russian officers, is allegedly preparing for an offensive.

Belarusian units might cover Russian troops in case of a new offensive on northern Ukraine. Alaksandr Łukašenka has repeatedly pointed out that Belarusian troops should prevent an attack on the advancing Russian troops from the back.