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Military maneuvers in the Belarusian city of Brestsky with Russian troops in early February
Photo: -- / dpa
While the conflict over the Russian deployment on the border with Ukraine continues, Belarus and Russia have begun joint military maneuvers.
The aim of the exercises in Belarus is to prepare the armed forces to "stop and ward off external aggression as part of a defense operation," the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
In the west, the maneuver, which is scheduled to last until February 20, is causing massive fears.
According to the information, the exercises are taking place at five military sites, four air force bases and at “various” other locations in Belarus.
One focus is the Brest region in the border area with Ukraine.
US expects 30,000 Russian soldiers in Belarus
Belarus and Russia did not provide any information on the number of soldiers involved in the joint exercises.
The United States assumes that Russia has transferred around 30,000 soldiers to Belarus for the maneuver.
According to Western information, Moscow has massed more than 100,000 soldiers on the border with Ukraine in recent months.
This fuels fears of a possible large-scale attack by Russia on the neighboring country.
NATO is therefore increasing its troop contingents in the eastern member states.
The United States and other allies are also supplying arms to Kiev.
Russia rejects any plans of attack.
At the same time, the Kremlin argues that it feels threatened by NATO.
President Vladimir Putin is demanding comprehensive security guarantees from the military alliance and the United States.
Western representatives have recently repeatedly called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Ukrainian border area and from Belarus.
Putin is the most important ally of the internationally largely isolated Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko.
After the presidential election in August 2020, which was overshadowed by massive allegations of fraud, and the subsequent suppression of mass protests, the Belarusian leadership was hit with western sanctions.
The West fears that Russia intends to permanently station the troops sent to Belarus as part of the exercises.
The Kremlin rejects this.
muk/AFP
