Up to 13,000 Belarusian servicemen and security officers are ready to fight against Ukraine – General Staff of Ukraine

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  – THURSDAY, 11 AUGUST, 17:01

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine says that according to preliminary information, up to 13,000 active and former Belarusian servicemen and members of OMON [a special police force under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus] have signed [documents giving] their consent to participate in the war against Ukraine.

Source: Oleksii Hromov, Head of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, at a briefing at the Ukraine - Ukrinform media centre 

Quote from Hromov: "Russia continues to draw Belarus into the full-scale war against Ukraine. According to preliminary data, up to 13,000 people from among the active and former servicemen of units of the Belarusian special operations forces, as well as the OMON, have signed [documents giving] their consent to participate in the war against Ukraine.

Their main motivation is financial. There is no ideological component in the actions of the occupying forces. No one believes in denazification, protecting the rights of the Russian-speaking population and so on. Fear and money are the main factors behind the Russian military presence."

Details: Hromov also warned that in the lead-up to Ukraine’s Independence Day [on 24 August], provocations may be staged at training grounds in Belarus resulting in foreign casualties, with the aim of blaming Ukraine.

Representatives of 37 countries in total are expected to take part in the International Army Games 2022, which are scheduled to be held in Belarus from 13 to 21 August.

According to the General Staff, the first foreign teams arrived at the Machulishchy airfield in Minsk Oblast, Belarus, on 3 August from the Russian Federation, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Cameroon, Laos, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria and Mali. The team from the Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School was spotted there on 8 August.

Quote from Hromov: "It is impossible to know the real purpose of holding the so-called games on the territory of Belarus, whose authorities constantly accuse Ukraine and the West of trying to influence its political system. Let's ask the question: why aren't these games being held at the much-hyped Alabino training ground [in Moscow Oblast]? Why must these games be held right before Ukraine’s Independence Day?"

Experts believe it cannot be ruled out that sabotage will be carried out at this time with the intention of causing foreign casualties, with Ukraine subsequently being demonised and accused of every possible and impossible sin, creating further grounds for the Belarusian people to be openly drawn into Putin's murderous plans.

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