Ukraine claims Belarus has amassed significant forces near its borders

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine issued a statement on Sunday reporting that the Belarusian army, under the guise of exercises, concentrated significant forces on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border in the Gomel region, calling Minsk’s actions “unfriendly” and calling “not to make tragic mistakes for your own country under pressure from Moscow.”

The report also states that in addition to the Belarusian military, tanks, artillery, MLRS and air defense, Ukrainian intelligence recorded the presence of mercenaries of the Russian PMC Wagner on the border.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appealed to the leadership of Belarus with a call to “withdraw troops from the state border of Ukraine to a distance exceeding the range of destruction of the fire systems existing in Belarus,” emphasizing that “Ukraine has never taken and is not going to take any unfriendly actions against the Belarusian people, however, in the event of a border violation, it will use all necessary measures for self-defense, and all concentrations of troops, facilities and supply routes in Belarus will become legitimate targets for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

Representatives of the Belarusian authorities have not yet commented on the statement of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

The day before, the authoritarian leader of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko congratulated Ukraine on Independence Day.

• Shortly before the start of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian troops were stationed in Belarus under the guise of exercises. In February 2022, they crossed the border with Ukraine and went to Kyiv and Gostomel, and Ukrainian cities were also shelled from the territory of Belarus. The Belarusian military itself did not participate in the Russian invasion. Lukashenko has repeatedly stated that despite his support for Moscow's actions, the Belarusian army will only enter the war if Ukraine attacks Belarus.