The President of Belarus avoids direct participation in the war in Ukraine, but continues to support Putin's policies.
Demonstrative military exercises of Belarus near the Polish and Ukrainian borders designed to create tension in the region. The presence of Belarusian forces near Ukraine should keep the troops from further transfer to the east, according to the press service of the British Ministry of Defense.
After the start of military exercises, the Belarusian leadership announced the deployment of special operations forces , air defense units along the border with Ukraine. A potential threat on the north-western border is likely to keep Ukraine's military leadership from shifting its armed forces from the region to the east.
Despite rumors, Belarus has not yet taken a direct part in the war. However, the territory of the country was actively used as a springboard for Russia's initial offensive on Kyiv and Chernihiv, as well as as an airfield, from where air attacks on Ukrainian cities were periodically carried out.
“President Lukashenko of Belarus is probably balancing support for the Russian invasion with a desire to avoid direct military intervention at the risk of Western sanctions, retaliation against Ukraine and possible discontent of the Belarusian military,” British intelligence said.
Latest Defense Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 16 May 2022
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/DAnpcubog6
🇺🇦 # StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/moSLR5a4DL
– Ministry of Defense @ (@DefenceHQ) May 16, 2022
Earlier, Alexander Lukashenko stated that Belarus will not take part in the “special operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine”.
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