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NATO may create attack groups near Belarus, Russia — Belarusian Defense Ministry

It was stressed that against this background, Belarus' near neighbors were increasing the scale and intensity of operative and combat training

MINSK, May 5. /TASS/. NATO forces are concentrated near the borders of Russia and Belarus and attack groups may be created on their basis, Deputy Chief of the Belarusian General Staff Ruslan Kosygin said on Thursday.

"NATO forces are located near the borders of Russia and our country. Attack groups can be created on their basis within the tightest deadlines for further use towards Belarus," Kosygin said in a statement uploaded to the Belarusian Defense Ministry’s Telegram channel.

Kosygin stressed that against this background, Belarus' near neighbors were increasing the scale and intensity of operative and combat training.

"In 2020, there were 67 exercises and in 2021, 80 exercises. Since the beginning of this year, NATO’s forces and national armies have held 15 exercises," Kosygin said.

He recalled that currently a multinational exercise codenamed Defender Europe 2022 was underway on the territories and in the airspace of Central and East European countries, including Poland and the Baltic States, and also in the Baltic and North seas.

"As a matter of fact, preparations are underway for combat operations in the eastern direction," he said.