Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus and Russia are activating a joint regional grouping of troops in the region.
“Due to the aggravation on the western borders of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, we have agreed to deploy a regional grouping of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.”
It is expected that this grouping may be engaged in the nearest future.
The basis of this grouping is formed by the Armed Forces of Belarus.
“I have to inform you that the formation of this grouping has started. It has been under way, I think, for the past two days. My order was given to start forming this grouping,” said Lukashenko.
He noted that since most of Russia’s troops are currently busy with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the core of this joint force will consist of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, but there will nevertheless be “more than one thousand Russian soldiers.”
He also claimed that Kiev is currently planning to carry out attacks against Belarus and is being pushed to do so by the West.
“Kiev is not just discussing, but is planning an attack on the territory of Belarus. Of course, the Ukrainians absolutely don’t need this. Why would they open a second front on our southern borders? What for? This is complete madness from a military point of view,” Lukashenko said.
“But, nevertheless, the process has begun. They are being pushed by their masters to start a war against Belarus to pull us into the conflict. To simultaneously deal with both Russia and Belarus,” he said.
According to Lukashenko, Minsk has already been warned through “unofficial channels” that an attack on Belarus from the territory of Ukraine is imminent. He claims that Kiev is threatening to carry out a series of attacks on Belarus and has already amassed up to 15,000 troops near the border.
Lukashenko once again warned that Minsk would respond with dignity to any adversary.
“We have been preparing for this for decades. If necessary, we will respond. God forbid, of course.”
The Belarusian leader said that Kiev had threatened him with a “Crimean Bridge 2” referring to the recent attack on the bridge connecting mainland Russia with the Crimean peninsula, blamed by Moscow on Ukrainian special services.
“My response to this was simple,” Lukashenko said. “Tell the President of Ukraine and other lunatics that the Crimean Bridge will seem like flowers to them if they touch even one meter of our territory with their filthy hands.”
