Ukrainian border guards comment on situation on border with Belarus

Ukrainian defenders have not detected any changes because of ‘distractive’ manoeuvres of Belarusian soldiers; they keep guarding the state border with the Republic of Belarus. 

Source: Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "As is known, the Ministry of Defence of Belarus announced the completion of a sudden check of the troops combat readiness that lasted for several days. 

At the same time, we have not detected any increase in the number of equipment and military personnel or the military manoeuvres during these days.

Both this check and the exercise that Belarus is conducting together with the Russians do not change anything for Ukraine, in fact. We keep enhancing the border with Belarus both at the state border and the border areas, so that our border is completely ready for defence. Going back to 24 February, we remember well where the Russian troops came from, how Belarusian border guards ‘nicely’ opened the border, and how the Republic of Belarus is currently supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Therefore, we must be ready for any scenario: for Russian forces trying to enter [Ukraine] from there for the second time, or for Belarusian forces openly supporting the military aggression against Ukraine under Russia’s pressure."

Details: According to Demchenko, apart from strengthening the border in terms of engineering works, Ukrainian forces are destroying all possible routes for military equipment, including placing mines on the most dangerous routes. Moreover, the Ukrainian troops are deploying monitoring systems and using UAVs to observe the situation on the border. 

For reference: Powerful electronic warfare systems are being used within Belarus to make it difficult for Ukraine to monitor the situation on the border, as well as to launch provocations against the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Background: 

• Belarus started to suddenly check the combat readiness of its army on the instructions of self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on 13 December. 
• As part of a surprise inspection of the Belarusian army, one of the military units has been tasked to cover and defend an asset on the country’s southern border, that is, on the border with Ukraine.
• The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) reported on 13 December that they did not see any Belarusian military units that could conduct a successful invasion; the SBGS considered the announcement made by the Belarusian Ministry of Defence on 13 December an attempt to ratchet up tensions. 
• Belarus completed measures to check the combat readiness of troops on 19 December, which began 6 days ago.

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