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Russian and Belarusian paratroopers get into a helicopter near the Belarusian border with Poland
Photo: AP
Two Russian paratroopers died during a joint military exercise in Belarus.
The two men hit the ground after a "sudden strong gust of wind", said the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday evening, according to the Interfax agency.
"Despite the efforts of the doctors, the two Russian soldiers died of their injuries." According to the exercise, a total of around 250 Russian paratroopers took part.
In view of the current crisis involving thousands of stranded migrants on the Belarusian-Polish border, the Baltic EU country Lithuania described the maneuver as a “symbolic political act”. Lithuania is closely monitoring Russia's military activities, said Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas - but they are currently lower than in the summer for the military exercise "Sapad" ("West").
The situation on the Polish-Belarusian border has deteriorated dramatically since the beginning of the week, when thousands of migrants made their way to the EU from the Belarusian side.
According to the information provided by the Polish authorities, large groups have already tried in vain to break through the fence system with which Poland intends to prevent them from crossing the border.
Much of the information from the border area cannot be conclusively verified because independent journalists have so far been denied access.
The EU has launched new sanctions that could be formally adopted early next week.
hen / dpa / AFP
