Ukraine’s security forces hold drills in Chernobyl area near Belarus border

January 22, BPN. Ukrainian special operation forces have held scheduled drills in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, about eight kilometers from the shared border with Belarus, UNIAN reported.

Assault groups practiced deterring Russian troops moving from the Belarusian direction and using heavy weapons, including tanks and a self-propelled artillery battery.

Special operation forces also trained in the ghost town of Pripyat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

On January 19, Alaksandr Łukašenka unexpectedly praised Ukraine for its restraint vis-a-vis Belarus during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. 

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

Authorities in Minsk denied Belarusian army troops’ involvement in combat operations on the Russian side. However, Belarus has 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.