Lukashenko visits Russian troops in Belarus: We're working for a common cause

The self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has arrived at the 230th Obuz-Lesna military training ground, where the Russian unit from the joint regional group of the Russian Federation and Belarus troops is stationed.

Source: Belarusian state-owned agency BelTA; European Pravda

"We’re working for a common cause," Lukashenko said after listening to a Russian officer’s report on the completion of combat coordination of the Russian-Belarusian group of troops.

A representative of the Russian troops reported to Lukashenko on the exercises and command and staff training. In particular, the two countries’ motorised rifle and tank units, special forces, and air defence units have been conducting joint exercises.

"At this stage, the units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are ready to carry out their assigned tasks," said an officer of the Russian troops.

BelTA reported that Lukashenko had learned about the location of military units and units of the Russian Armed Forces and talked with soldiers and officers.

Background:

• On 27 December 2022, Ukraine’s border guards reported that they had not seen the formation of an offensive group in Belarus which would be ready to invade from the territory of the Republic of Belarus.
• On 28 December, Serhii Deineko, the Head of Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, said that Russia had deployed a group of 10,200 troops in Belarus, and that this number was not enough for an attack on Ukraine.
• On 2 January, it was reported that Russia and Belarus had extended the training of the regional joint force of the so-called Union State [Russia and Belarus] until at least 8 January.

Recently, the Belarusian Ministry of Defence announced that Russia and Belarus plan to conduct joint aviation exercises, and that personnel, weapons, military and special equipment of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue to arrive in the country.

In December, the presidents of Russia and Belarus, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, agreed to continue military exercises and jointly produce weapons following negotiations in Minsk.

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