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Belarus says Ukraine keeping up to 120,000 troops near border between countries

Konstantin Molostov said Belarus is taking "appropriate measures" in response to the actions of Ukraine

MINSK, November 1. /TASS/. Ukraine is keeping as many as 120,000 troops near the border between the countries, said Chairman of the Belarusian State Border Committee Konstantin Molostov.

"The size of the battlegroup, which is part of [Ukraine’s] Operational Command North and has been deployed near Belarus, is estimated at up to 120,000 people," he said in a speech at the country’s parliament.

The official said 17,000 servicemen from that battlegroup are deployed near the border to reinforce its protection. He also said members of so-called volunteer units were present at some areas along the border. The Belarusian border agency has already warned multiple times that the presence near the border of territorial defense soldiers and other armed personnel that are not properly trained raises the risk of provocations.

Molostov said Belarus is taking "appropriate measures" in response to the actions of Ukraine.

The year 2023 plan to protect the state border, which was approved by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in January, stipulates that most efforts will be focused on the border with Ukraine. According to the State Border Committee, Ukraine had assembled 17,200 servicemen near the Belarusian border by the start of this year and is setting up barriers, including minefields. Ukraine regularly commits provocations on the border, including with the use of weapons, of which 88 cases were recorded in 2022. In order to be able to respond, Belarus has reinforced its units, actively used technical means of border protection, forming maneuvering groups including armored vehicles and artillery. The State Border Committee has said that Minsk plans to increase the number of units involved in the protection of the border with Ukraine, which is 1,084 kilometers long.

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Ukraine crisis Belarus

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