Pushilin was guarded by Łukašenka’s security service during his June stay in Belarus, Russian envoy says

September 16, BPN. “Belarus plays quite a serious role in the special military operation,” including within the common air defense system and by joint patrols of the Union State’s borders, Boris Gryzlov, Russian ambassador to Belarus, told Russia’s Peterburgskiy Dnevnik.

He stressed that Belarus sent humanitarian aid “almost immediately after the start of the special military operation,” while the pro-government Belarusian Liberal Democratic Party is “actively discussing construction and rebuilding in the new territories.”

Russian diplomat noted that Minsk provided security for Denis Pushilin, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, during his visit to Brest in June.

In particular, Minsk provided an armored vehicle, while Alaksandr Łukašenka’s security service personnel guarded him throughout his stay in Belarus, he said.

The Belarusian ruler did not meet with Pushilin during that visit, which received little coverage in the state media.

In other remarks, Gryzlov said that “the construction of the Union State is making much faster progress than before,” while relations between the Russian and Belarusian leaders are “at their peak.”

On February 24, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine. Authorities in Minsk deny Belarusian army troops’ involvement in combat operations on the Russian side. However, Belarus allowed Russian troops and weapons to move freely through the country, use its airspace, refuel and store military equipment and attack Ukraine from its territory.

A 20,000-strong grouping of Russian forces crossed into Ukraine from Belarus at the outset of the war, Alaksandr Łukašenka told AFP in an interview on July 21. Russian troops retreated from northern Ukraine later.