Lukashenko announces maneuvers with Russia: troops are already arriving - Ukraine worried

Created: 2022-01-18Updated: 2022-01-18 10:18 am

By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi

Russia and Belarus plan to resume military maneuvers amid high tensions with the West.

A plan should be developed in case of a confrontation.

Update from January 18, 10

a.m.: The first Russian troops are already arriving in Belarus for the Russian-Belarusian military maneuvers in February, as Alexander Volfovich, Director of the Belarusian Security Council, announced. At the same time, he stated that the timing of the joint exercise was "nothing special", but the relocation of Russian military units, including heavy equipment such as tanks and howitzers, increases concerns about a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In addition to the borders with Poland and Lithuania, the joint exercise with Russia is also to take place in southern Belarus on the border with Ukraine. According to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War, the border between Belarus and Ukraine is another possible starting point for a Russian invasion. From here, troops of Russian President Vladimir Putin could advance quickly towards Kiev. In addition, troops from Ukraine would have to secure the border with Belarus in addition to the border with Russia.

Meanwhile, the Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko again criticized the West and accused a concentration of troops on the borders with his country. "Why are we and Russia being asked to stop maneuvers and drills when you've come from so far," he said, claiming western countries have 30,000 troops stationed near Belarus. He also accused Ukraine of increasing the number of "radical nationalists" in the border area - a statement that coincides with those of the Kremlin. A Ukrainian official

told

that Lukashenko's remarks were "manipulative" and "part of an information war".

As concerns about a military escalation increased, Chancellor Olaf Scholz also intervened.

During his first visit to Spain, he warned Moscow of "serious political and economic consequences" in the event of aggression against Ukraine.

"That's why it's our job to do everything we can to avoid such a development, from which everyone ultimately has to suffer," emphasized the Chancellor.

He described the situation on the Ukrainian border as "very, very serious" and Russian troop movements as "massive and a threat to Ukraine's sovereignty".

Lukashenko announces maneuvers with Russia - "Plan in case of a confrontation with the West"

Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin at a meeting in 2015. The relationship between the two is close, but not always conflict-free.

© picture alliance / dpa |

Sergei Karpukhin / Pool

First report from January 17:

Munich - The West's relations with both Russia and Belarus have been extremely strained in recent months.

The conflict has been smoldering ever since the annexation of Crimea and the conflict over eastern Ukraine in 2014.

The issue of Ukraine is now again putting a heavy strain on relations.

But there are also crunches in other places: When thousands of refugees appeared on the eastern EU external border between Poland and Belarus, the EU accused the authoritarian Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko of using them deliberately as a "weapon".

Russian President Vladimir Putin rushed to help with military exercises, among other things, and sent a signal to the West.

Now the two countries will apparently carry out military maneuvers again.

Lukashenko announces joint maneuvers with Putin - exercise against "confrontation with the West"

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has now announced new Belarusian-Russian military maneuvers for February.

As Lukashenko announced, the agreement on joint military exercises had already been reached with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the "difficult situation" in December.

It was initially unclear how many soldiers would take part.

Lukashenko, who is usually very clear about his rhetoric against the West, also clearly stated the aim of the maneuvers.

According to him, the exercises are aimed at "developing a precise plan in the event of a confrontation with Western forces".

The maneuvers are under the motto "Union Resolve 2022," said the Belarusian ruler in the online service Telegram.

Russia-Belarus: Military exercise due to NATO presence - "must take action against challenges"

Lukashenko justified the joint maneuvers with the strengthening of NATO's military presence in Poland and the Baltic States.

Warsaw has applied to NATO for logistical and technical support.

In addition, Lukashenko accused the Ukrainian leadership of strengthening its units on the border with Belarus.

"Please pick an exact date for the drills and let us know so we can't be criticized for accumulating troops out of thin air as if we were going to war," state news agency BelTA quoted the Belarusian ruler as saying his Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin.

In addition, the Belarusian chief of staff Viktor Gulevich described the NATO presence in neighboring countries as a "major threat to Belarus' military security".

More than 10,000 soldiers and 300 tanks are stationed on the border with Belarus, Gulevich claimed.

Another reinforcement of 23,000 troops had arrived as part of the refugee crisis.

"Our country must take action against this challenge," said the chief of staff.