Russian troops may cross into Ukraine from Belarus – opposition politician

September 23, BPN. Belarusian opposition politician Pavieł Łatuška has said Russian troops may re-invade Ukraine from Belarus.

“Many of our insiders say that Ukraine will be invaded from our territory again, by a force much larger than on February 24,” he told a forum in Warsaw.

He added that Belarusian Railway and other transport companies have already been prepared to deploy large numbers of troops.

“After Putin announced mobilization and a call-up in Belarus, Russia’s direct ally within the Union State, became highly probable, the Belarusian staging area has acquired a decisive importance again for starting the new phase of the war,” Łatuška said.

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, Łukašenka told AFP in an interview on July 21. Russian troops retreated from northern Ukraine later.

On September 21, Moscow announced a plan to call up 300,000 reservists in a bid to reverse setbacks in the war in Ukraine. Łukašenka stressed the previous day that Belarus would stick with Russia and ordered officials to check the readiness of Belarusian troops.