Belarusian officials claim Wagner mercenaries will train Belarusians to fight
The Ministry of Defence of Belarus is counting on the "exchange of experience" with mercenaries from the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) at Belarusian training grounds.
Source: Belarusian state-owned news agency BelTA with reference to the country’s Ministry of Defence
Quote: "After the arrival of representatives of the Wagner PMC and their dispersal at the training grounds for classes and mutual exchange of experience, special attention will be paid to the methods and means of warfare by the Armed Forces of Belarus."
Details: The Ministry of Defence said that the training grounds of Belarus are completing the preparation and combat coordination of the next set of units of the Russian Armed Forces from the regional grouping of troops.
The training grounds of the Armed Forces of Belarus are preparing to take another shift for the joint training of military personnel of Belarus and Russia. The previous rotation of the Russian regional grouping of troops, which took place more than a month ago, was "successfully completed".
"In the event of threats to the Union State, the units of the regional grouping of troops are ready to provide security and protection," the Russian Defence Ministry added.
Background:
- Following the mutiny and a conversation with the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said that his mercenaries were returning to field camps. The criminal case against Prigozhin in the Russian Federation was ordered to be closed, and he was to go to Belarus.
- The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that the criminal case against Yevgeny Prigozhin for armed rebellion had been closed.
- On 27 June, Lukashenko claimed Prigozhin was in Belarus, but on 6 July he was not there. On 4 July, it was reported that Prigozhin had arrived in St Petersburg, where weapons seized during searches were returned to him.
- On 5 July, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that only some of the Wagner mercenaries went to Belarus after the attempted mutiny in Russia. On 11 July, in Vilnius, he stated that he did not see Wagnerites present in Belarus.
- Belarus has set up a tent camp for militants of the Wagner Group near the city of Asipovičy, Mahilioŭ Oblast.
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