Ukraine’s defense minister aware of new risks of invasion from Belarus

December 21, BPN. The risk of invasion from Belarus always exists, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said in his recent TV appearance.

Belarus allows Russian troops to use Belarusian airfields to station aircraft with cruise missiles and launch Iranian drones on Ukraine, he noted.

Russia can use Belarusian territories for an attack if it forms an assault group, but it has not yet been formed, he added. “We will definitely see when they start preparations,” the official said.

Ukrainian defense ministry estimates that Russia could create such a group in January-April 2023.

The Kremlin dreams of involving Belarusian troops in combat operations in Ukraine, Reznikov said.

“Is the Belarusian leadership ready to use them?” he wondered. “Belarusians have no inclination to go to war with Ukrainians. Of course, they are soldiers, and they will follow orders, but what happens after they cross the Ukrainian border? I believe that Belarusian leadership is not interested in wasting its military potential. That’s why we hope that they will keep up this balancing act.”