Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has escalated tensions in the region by claiming that Ukraine has deployed over 120,000 troops along the Belarus-Ukraine border. In response, Lukashenko states that Belarus has moved nearly a third of its army to the border, along with special units such as ‘Alpha’ and ‘Almaz’. ‘Seeing their aggressive policy, we have deployed our military along the entire border, just as in the case of war and defense,’ Lukashenko said.The Belarusian leader warns that the situation at the border is more volatile than ever, with the area reportedly being ‘more mined than ever before’. Lukashenko also claims that Ukrainian drones are continuously violating Belarusian airspace, prompting responses from Belarus’s air defenses.In a separate statement, Lukashenko suggested that Ukraine’s military operations in Russia’s Kursk region could lead to a significant escalation. ‘If it’s like this, as in Kursk, it will be an escalation that will end with the destruction of Ukraine,’ he warned. Lukashenko also speculated that Ukraine’s actions might be an attempt to provoke Russia into using tactical nuclear weapons, which he believes would isolate Moscow internationally.These statements come amid ongoing tensions in the region, with Lukashenko reiterating his alliance with Russia. He mentioned that Belarus and Russia have a joint defense plan for their western border, which could be changed to an offensive one if necessary. However, the accuracy of Lukashenko’s claims about troop numbers and movements cannot be independently verified, and some sources suggest his statements may be exaggerated.
Key points
- Lukashenko claims Ukraine has deployed over 120,000 troops to the Belarus border.
- Belarus reportedly moves nearly a third of its army to the Ukrainian border in response.
- Lukashenko warns of potential conflict escalation, suggesting Ukraine’s actions could lead to its destruction.
- The Belarusian leader expresses concerns about NATO involvement and the possibility of nuclear weapons use.
Contradictions👾While Lukashenko claims 120,000 Ukrainian troops are at the border in most reports, one source cites him saying there are 1.
2 million soldiers, which is significantly different and likely an error.
👾Lukashenko’s statements about Ukraine’s intentions and the potential for escalation contradict each other across different sources, ranging from claiming Ukraine is provoking conflict to suggesting they’re attempting to strengthen their negotiating position.
