Belarus despatched extra troops to strengthen its border with Ukraine on Saturday (10 August), saying Ukrainian drones had violated its airspace in the midst of Kyiv’s army incursion into Russia’s Kursk area.
Belarus’ Overseas Ministry summoned Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires, demanded measures to make sure such incidents wouldn’t recur and recommended a repeat would immediate Belarus to think about whether or not Kyiv’s diplomatic presence in Minsk was “acceptable”.
President Alexander Lukashenko, addressing a gathering in jap Belarus, stated air defence forces on Friday destroyed a number of of “a few dozen” Ukrainian drones after they violated Belarusian airspace within the Mogilev area bordering Russia.
Lukashenko, one among Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, stated others have been later destroyed close to the Russian metropolis of Yaroslavl.
“I don’t perceive why Ukraine had to do that. We’ve to look into it,” the BelTA information company quoted him as saying. “However we’ve…made ourselves clear and conveyed to them that any provocation is not going to go unanswered.”
The state tv channel Belarus1 confirmed footage of what it stated have been fragments of downed drones.
The Belarusian Overseas Ministry, in feedback additionally showing on BelTA, stated Minsk demanded “complete measures” to make sure such incidents weren’t repeated.
“It was identified…that if Ukraine’s diplomatic illustration in Belarus can’t affect stopping such provocations, the Belarusian aspect will increase the difficulty of the appropriateness of its continued presence in Minsk.”
The Ukrainian Overseas Ministry didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, a state physique, wrote on Telegram that boosting arms deployments close to the border was “an try to assist Putin and divert the eye of Ukraine’s command to this sector”.
Earlier on Saturday, the Russian Defence Ministry stated Russian forces had intercepted six drones within the Yaroslavl area.
“Contemplating the state of affairs in Ukraine and within the Kursk area of Russia, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has given orders to strengthen troops within the Gomel and Mozyr tactical areas as a way to reply to such provocations,” Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin stated.
“Particular operations forces, floor troops and rocket forces, together with Polonez and Iskander programs, have been tasked with deploying to the designated areas.”
He stated Belarus regarded the violation of its airspace as a provocation and “was prepared to reply”.
