Lukashenko pledges no offensive actions outside Belarus amid troop buildup
Self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko would never order an attack or engage in military actions beyond Belarusian territory, he declared during a meeting focused on current issues in information policy on Aug. 29.
"The same goes for the Ukrainian crisis [as Lukashenko refers to Russia's war against Ukraine]," said the Belarusian dictator, according to the state-controlled Telegram channel Pul Pervogo.
“Our policy is absolutely clear and honest. I read these reviews in the global media, and I feel unwell reading about 'Lukashenko this, Lukashenko that...' There have been and will be no orders to go beyond our country's borders. We will only fight if someone comes to us with ill intentions. That's it.”
Lukashenko emphasized that Belarus will promote only its own "Belarusian truth." He added that there is no need to fabricate anything, claiming there are supposedly enough topics that are "beneficial for the country."
Threats from Belarus
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called on Belarus on Aug. 25 to withdraw its troops from the Ukrainian border, which had been amassed under the guise of military exercises.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, Belarusian armed forces are concentrating a significant number of troops in Gomel Oblast near Ukraine's northern border under the pretext of exercises. Belarus has deployed tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launchers, air defense systems, and engineering equipment, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The monitoring project Belarusian Hajun reported on Aug. 23 that since Aug. 10, Belarus has relocated at least 1,000 soldiers to Gomel Oblast.
Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service reported on Aug. 22 that the situation on the border with Belarus remains under control, with no recorded activities by enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups or other provocations.
The Associated Press reported on Aug. 19 that Belarus had deployed aviation and air defense forces near the border with Ukraine.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed on Aug. 18 that he was "forced" to deploy nearly a third of his army to the border with Ukraine due to the alleged presence of over 120,000 troops there.
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