Ukraine demands Belarus to withdraw troops from border, tensions rise

Ukrainian intelligence reports that the Belarusian armed forces are concentrating a significant number of personnel, including special forces, as well as tanks, artillery, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), air defense, engineering and other military equipment in Gomel Oblast, near Ukraine's northern border.

The presence of mercenaries from the former Wagner private military company (PMC) was also observed, the ministry wrote, noting that the exercises near the border and the Chornobyl nuclear power plant pose a threat to Ukraine's national security and global security in general.

"We call on the authorities of the Republic of Belarus not to make tragic mistakes for their country under pressure from Moscow, and on its armed forces to stop hostile actions and withdraw their troops from the state border of Ukraine to a distance exceeding the range of the fire systems available in Belarus," the statement said.

Ukraine emphasizes that it will not take any unfriendly actions against Belarus, but warns that it will take necessary defensive measures in case of violation of the state border. Troop concentrations, military facilities and supply routes in Belarus would be legitimate targets for the armed forces.

This follows an earlier report by the Belarusian monitoring group "Belaruski Gayun" on August 23 that Minsk had deployed at least a thousand troops in Gomel Onlast.

Earlier, self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that the country’s Air Force and air defense troops had been “put on high combat readiness” and had destroyed drones allegedly launched by Ukraine towards Belarus and Russia. According to him, the drones were initially heading towards Smolensk but then changed their flight path towards the Russian city of Yaroslavl.