Defense official confirms mining of southern border areas

June 20, BPN. A Belarusian Defense Ministry official has virtually confirmed the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ report that Belarus mined its southern border areas.

On June 20, Belarusian special operations forces commander Vadzim Dzienisienka, who accompanied foreign military attachés on a trip along the border in the Małaryta district, Brest region, described the functioning of checkpoints on two main regional motorways.

He said the State Border Committee, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defense serve at the checkpoints together. The border guards and police check those crossing the border, and members of the military will perform their tasks in the event of “unforeseen circumstances”. “The enemy will not be able to bypass the checkpoint. In addition to engineering facilities, mine-explosive fences are also used. We do not hide it,” he added, as quoted by the ministry’s press service.

The checkpoints are equipped for all-around defense, Dzienisienka said. “Each checkpoint is supported by artillery units. They are equipped with air defense, man-portable air defense systems and anti-aircraft guns. Due to recent events, there are also anti-drone weapons,” he said.

On June 2, Oleksiy Gromov of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ General Staff said: “Access routes, forest roads and bridges are mined in the Brest region’s border areas with Ukraine, from Ukraine’s state border with Poland to the Olevsk – Novohrad-Volynskyi axis.”

On February 24, Russia started what it called a special military operation in Ukraine. Authorities in Minsk deny Belarusian army troops’ involvement in combat operations on the Russian side. However, Alaksandr Łukašenka admitted in the May 5 interview with AP that Russian troops entered Ukraine and launched missiles from Belarusian territory.