Ukrainian border service says some 9,000 Russian troops training in Belarus

January 31, BPN. About 9,000 Russian troops are currently being trained at Belarusian training ranges, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service, Andriy Demchenko, told Ukrainian television on January 30.

“We recorded a slightly higher number in the past,” he said. “But those units that have already been trained have been transferred back to Russian territory in order to be redeployed to combat zones.”

“Aviation exercises [of Belarusian and Russian crews] continue. They should end around February 1. Fortunately, we do not see these units’ moving military equipment or personnel near our border,” he said.

Russia has repeatedly struck Ukraine from Belarusian territory, where it has a growing military presence. It used Belarus as a launchpad for its February 2022 offensive on Kyiv. At the same time, Belarus says its troops are not directly involved in hostilities in Ukraine.