Belarusian special forces troops have been conducting drills on the border with Ukraine and Poland, raising concerns over a potential intervention in Ukraine.
The drills were part of a tightly controlled press tour of the 38th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Vadim Lukashevich, deputy commander of the Special Operations Forces of Belarus, said the troops were “ready to fulfill any tasks, including the most difficult ones if we have to”. Belarus is hosting an undeclared number of Russian soldiers but Lukashenko has promised not to send his own forces over the southern border to Ukraine. He has repeatedly said that Minsk should be ready for any turn of events. Belarus, which retains much of its Soviet legacy and institutions, has been closed to foreign media, particularly after historic anti-government demonstrations in 2020. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has hosted an unknown number of Russian troops but has pledged not to send his own forces to Ukraine. Lukashenko, who has ruled for almost three decades, has repeatedly said that Minsk should be prepared for any turn of events.
