Ukraine’s Rivne region beefs up security at shared border with Belarus

January 16, BPN. Ukraine has been strengthening border protection in the Rivne region along its 229-kilometer shared border with Belarus, Vitaly Koval, head of the Rivne regional administration, said in his Telegram channel.

New fortification and anti-tank trenches should prevent the potential advance of the Russian troops into Ukraine from Belarus, he stressed.

The local population is ready to fight and defend their land, he noted.

“Consider it another army,” Koval wrote. “Historically, northern areas of the Rivne region are a land of partisan glory. There has always been a strong resistance movement here. Neither fascist Germany nor the all-controlling Soviets were able to defeat them.”

Ukrainians “will not allow anyone to come into their homes, to hurt their children, wives and mothers,” Koval noted. They participate in daily combat training and volunteer to dig anti-tank trenches and make defensive fortifications, the official added.

The Rivne region has mined the entire border perimeter, Koval said, noting that its northern part is covered with dense forests and swamps.

“Only a madman would dare to get into this, as we call it, Polissia cauldron,” he said. “The north of Rivne region will turn into bloody swamps if Russia opens one more front from Belarus.”

In February 2022, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine. Alaksandr Łukašenka admitted that Belarus participated in Russia’s war on Ukraine, but said it was “not killing anyone.”

Authorities in Minsk denied Belarusian army troops’ involvement in combat operations on the Russian side. However, Belarus allowed Russian troops to attack Ukraine from its territory on multiple occasions.