Russia to send more tanks, ACVs to Belarus amid ‘threats to Union State’
Army of the Russian Federation in Belarus (Photo:Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus)
Up to 9,000 Russian troops and a large number of military equipment will arrive in Belarus as part of the deployment of a "common grouping of troops", Assistant Defense Minister of Belarus for International Military Cooperation Valery Revenka said on Twitter on Oct. 17.
According to him, Moscow will transfer about 170 tanks, up to 200 armored combat vehicles (ACVs), and up to 100 guns and mortars with a caliber of more than 100 mm.
"The deployment of NATO groups near the borders of the Union State in the absence of dialogue, increased intensity of NATO training activities with a focus on offensive actions, encouraging Belarusian ‘radical elements’ to overthrow the government of Belarus are considered threats to the security of the Union State," the representative of the Ministry of Defense wrote.
However, no such NATO deployments have taken place, leaving it unclear as to which threats the representative was referring to.
Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said on Oct. 17 that Russia was attacking Kyiv and northern regions of Ukraine with kamikaze drones from Belarus.
Russia attacked Kyiv with kamikaze drones on the morning of Oct.17. After the first attack, a fire broke out in a non-residential building, and several residential buildings were damaged.
As of 3.55 p.m., four people had been reported dead under the rubble, including a six-month-pregnant woman and her husband. Nineteen residents were rescued.
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