NATO sees no threat to allies from Wagner Group in Belarus

NATO has been closely monitoring all military operations in Belarus, seeing no direct or indirect threat to its member states posed by Russia’s Wagner Group.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Longescu said this in a comment to PAP, Ukrinform reports.

"NATO has significantly increased its defense presence in the eastern part of the Alliance in response to Russia's aggressive actions, and we continue to do everything in order to deter any possible threats and protect every inch of the allied territory. As NATO leaders said at the Vilnius summit in July, we ... condemn all those who actively support Russia's war," she said.

The NATO spokeswoman added that Belarus continues to provide its territory and infrastructure for Russia’s attacks on Ukraine and support for Russian aggression. "NATO closely monitors all military activities in Belarus. We do not see any direct or indirect military threat from the Wagner Group mercenaries to our allies but we remain vigilant," she said.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus announced on Monday the start of the command and staff exercises involving the 6th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade at the Gozhsky training ground and areas in Grodno region bordering Poland and Lithuania.

The Polish Ministry of National Defense said additional military units would be sent to the Polish-Belarusian border to boost security in the area.