Waiting for Wagner mercenaries: Satellite images show that a tent camp is being built in Belarus
A combination of factors suggests that a military camp for Russian mercenaries is being built in Belarus.
Source: Belaruski Hajun [an independent Belarusian military monitoring media outlet], Radio Liberty, The New York Times
Details: Currently, work is underway on the territory of the former military base No 61732 in the village of Ceĺ (Asipovičy district, Mahilioŭ Oblast), where the 465th Missile Brigade of the Belarusian Armed Forces was previously stationed. It is approximately 90 kilometres from Minsk.
Recently, there has been a lot of information about workers from different parts of the country being brought there with their construction equipment. Various sources indicate that the work began on Sunday (25.06) or Monday (26.06), Hajun notes.
At the same time, analysts emphasise that this data is still being checked and is not fully verified.
Satellite images published by Radio Liberty and The New York Times show that Belarus is rapidly building temporary structures on the abandoned military base.
The New York Times writes that this indicates the possible location of Wagner fighters, who were allowed to relocate to the country after the group's failed rebellion against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to the Belaruski Hajun project, Wagner PMC units have not yet arrived in Belarus, although this does not exclude the fact that the mercenaries may be deployed soon.
The images taken by Planet Labs on 27 June show changes on the territory of the former military base and several repeating objects that could be tents.
The publication notes that "the size, colour and location of the buildings are similar to other military tent camps built in Belarus and Russia since the beginning of 2022".
Comparing the photo with the data on the tents being set up, it is evident that a large tent camp is being equipped.
Earlier, several Belarusian media outlets reported about the renovation of a former military unit in the village of Ceĺ, Asipovičy district. The journalists referenced conversations with residents concerned about the possible appearance of Wagnerites near Asipovičy.
Background:
- Russian media outlet Verstka reported that camps were being built in Belarus to house Wagner PMC militants after the agreement between Alexander Lukashenko and Yevgeny Prigozhin.
- The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine denied this information. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine stressed that the intelligence service closely monitors the situation in Belarus, which is an ally of the Russian aggressor state.
- On 27 June, Alexander Lukashenko, self-proclaimed President of Belarus, said that Belarus was not building camps for the Wagner PMC but would "help with accommodation" if necessary.
- " We are not building any camps yet. But if they want to (I understand they are looking at certain areas), we will accommodate them. Put up tents, if you like. But for now, they are in Luhansk in their camps. We offered them one of the abandoned camps. They are welcome – the fence is there, and everything is in place. Put up your tents. We will help them as much as we can until they decide what to get up to," the Belarusian dictator said.
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