Russian military units will carry out "
tactical exercises
" in Belarus, which borders Ukraine, the Interfax news agency reported on Monday, citing the Defense Ministry in Moscow.
It is not specified when and where these maneuvers will take place, but this announcement comes at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected in Minsk for talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.
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"
The final assessment of the units' capability and combat readiness will be given (...) once the battalions
' tactical exercises have been completed," the Russian Defense Ministry said, quoted by Interfax, without specifying when. and where exactly they will take place.
Vladimir Putin's visit comes 10 months after the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, which was launched from several locations, including Belarusian territory.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: why the military escalation with Belarus must be taken seriously
In October, Belarus announced the formation of a joint force with Russia and several thousand Russian soldiers arrived in this former Soviet republic.
This deployment has raised fears that Belarusian troops will join Russian soldiers in their intervention in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed on Sunday evening that "
the protection of the border with Russia and Belarus
" was "
also a constant priority
".
“
We are preparing for all possible defense scenarios
,” Volodymyr Zelensky explained in his daily address to the nation after a meeting with Ukrainian army commanders.
Alexander Lukashenko, for his part, has repeatedly affirmed that he does not plan to send Belarusian military units to Ukraine.
