January 23, BPN. Russia is unlikely to launch a new offensive on Kyiv from Belarus, Ukraine’s deputy military intelligence chief Vadym Skibitsky told Baltic news portal Delfi on January 20.
“It doesn’t have a powerful assault and offensive group,” he said (quotes rendered from Russian). “The 1st Tank Army’s 2nd mechanized division that trained at ranges in Belarus is now being redeployed and will enter from Russia in the Kupiansk area. This indicates that there will be a rotation. But we have reinforced our defenses in the Kyiv area. The Russians will not manage to create a powerful assault force in two months.”
But there are two serious threats coming from Belarusian territory, he added, namely missile and air strikes. “In addition, we do not rule out provocative acts. But this is not the kind of threat that indicates a preparation for a new offensive against Kyiv,” he stressed.
On January 16, the defense ministry in Minsk said Belarusian and Russian pilots started tactical air drills to “improve interoperability when carrying out joint training and combat missions.”
The drills scheduled from January 16 to February 1 include air reconnaissance, joint border patrol, paratrooper landing, cargo delivery, and troop evacuation training, it added. All Belarusian military airfields and training ranges are involved in the exercises.
The drills are taking place amid ongoing Russia’s war on Ukraine. Authorities in Minsk denied Belarusian troops’ involvement in combat operations on the Russian side. However, Belarus allowed Russian troops to attack Ukraine from its territory on multiple occasions.
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