Ukrainian commander: no friends across border in Belarus

July 13, BPN. Ukrainian troops have laid more than 5,800 mines and dug 6,500 meters of anti-tank trenches at the shared border with Belarus in the last 10 days, a senior commander has said.

Joint Forces Commander Serhiy Nayev said the 30 new mine fields and other fortifications are intended to prevent enemy subversive reconnaissance units and armored vehicles from crossing into Ukraine.

“We understand that we will not need the state border line with our northern neighbors, as it is, for a long time because we don’t have friends on the other side of the border. That is why we set the task to make the frontier zone impassable for the enemy,” he said.

Ukraine moved to fortify its northern border after officials in Minsk announced the imminent arrival of Wagner Group fighters in Belarus.