Belarus stages border provocations to impress China amid military drills
Belarusian law enforcement agencies are preparing for provocations at the border with Ukraine. This is intended to showcase their capabilities to China, with whom Belarus is conducting military maneuvers, warns Kyiv. Meanwhile, Lukashenko announced the withdrawal of his troops from the border area.
5:47 PM EDT, July 13, 2024
Many of the reports by Russian or Belarusian state media or officials from the Kremlin or Belarus are likely not true. Such reports may be part of an information war by the Russian Federation.
"They are planning to resort to provocations, which they will successfully prevent themselves in order to show their Chinese counterparts their capabilities. From July 8 to 19, the first joint exercises of the special operations forces of the Belarusian Armed Forces and the military of the People’s Liberation Army of China take place in the territory of the Republic of Belarus. The exercises have the status of 'anti-terrorist,'" reported the National Resistance Center of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
After "successfully preventing" [alleged] armed provocations at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, Belarusian security forces will try to blame Ukraine.
The Resistance Center also reported that previously, the Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Republic of Belarus Armed Forces, Uladzimir Kupryianuk, stated that there is a threat of armed provocations in Belarus "in the context of the growing presence of special forces, mercenaries, and various volunteer formations in the border areas."
According to the Ukrainian side, this statement was meant to lay the groundwork for Belarus to carry out provocations. For Belarus, it would be advantageous to demonstrate its security forces' ability to respond to threats in the context of joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the first joint military exercises of both countries.
Lukashenko issued an order
At the same time, on Saturday, Alexander Lukashenko announced a reduction of tension at the border with Ukraine, declaring that the situation at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border has been stabilized. Therefore, they will withdraw the troops from the border and not fight or concentrate the armed forces except for special units.
"Now we have no problems with the Ukrainians, and I hope we won't have any," he stated.
