Russia-Ukraine: First Batch Of Russian Soldiers Arrive In Belarus For Joint Force

The first convoy of Russian forces has arrived in Belarus, as part of a regional force “exclusively to strengthen the protection and defence of the border” with Ukraine, the country’s defence ministry said on Saturday.

This come days after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin said that his country and Russia will deploy a joint military task force in response to what he called an aggravation of tension on the country’s western borders.

Lukashenko also accused Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine of training Belarusian radicals “to carry out sabotage, terrorist attacks and to organise a military mutiny in the country”.

Lukashenko relies financially and politically on Russia. Russia helped the Belarusian president quell pro-democracy protests that erupted following his victory in the disputed presidential election in 2020.

The Belarus leader also allowed his country to be used by Russia’s troops to launch the invasion of Ukraine.

But Belarusian armed forces have until now not taken part in the offensive.

Now, the joint force’s deployment raises fears that Belarusian troops could join Russian forces in their offensive in Ukraine.