Russia trying to draw Belarus into open war with Ukraine, says Ukrainian intelligence
According to the military intelligence of Ukraine, six battalions are concentrated near our border (Photo:gur.gov.ua)
Russia is trying to draw Belarus into open war against Ukraine, Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, said on Ukrainian military television on Oct. 6.
"There are regular meetings between (Russian dictator Vladimir) Putin and(Belarusian dictator Alexander) Lukashenko to discuss this issue, and Putin is trying to persuade Lukashenko to make this decision,” Skibitskyi said.
“Today, according to the military intelligence of Ukraine, six battalions are concentrated near our border. These are mechanized battalions, battalions of airborne troops of the so-called command of special operations force.”
Skibitskyi added that Lukashenko is ready to give "everything he has" to be used by Russia – provided that the armed forces of Belarus do not enter the war against Ukraine directly.
"How long this situation will last will depend on how the events at the front develop and in general, how the events in Russia's war against our country pan out," said Skibitskyi.
In early September, Lukashenko said that he was fully behind the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but would allegedly take part in hostilities only if there was an attack on Belarus.
He admitted on Oct. 4 that Minsk is participating in the war against Ukraine. According to the dictator, this participation is allegedly to "prevent the spread of this conflict to the territory of Belarus."
Meanwhile, Russia is deploying its military on the Belarusian territory, and launching missile attacks on Ukraine from there.
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