Russia keeps 9,000 troops in Belarus - Reznikov

Russia keeps 9,000 troops in Belarus - Reznikov

Ukrinform
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has requested a phone call with Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin in connection with the decision to extend Russian-Belarusian military drills "Allied Resolve 2022."

Reznikov said this at a briefing at Ukrinform on Monday, February 21.

"As for my contact with the Belarusian defense minister [...] we agreed with him on direct interaction. I wrote him a letter yesterday and through the attache of the Republic of Belarus in Ukraine I asked for a phone conversation to be held today in order to ask direct questions: what is happening? They officially announced the extension of those [Russian-Belarusian] exercises. So formally the exercises are not over, and Russian troops remain [in Belarus]," Reznikov said.

According to him, 9,000 Russian troops, as well as machinery and equipment, including missiles, are currently stationed in Belarus.

"But I want to say that such a contingent, that someone says that there will be an attack on Kyiv from the Belarusian side - excuse me, it sounds ridiculous. But threatening, intimidating us, creating a situation of such an alleged encirclement - yes, it works. That's why exercises have started in Transnistria, so that we could work hard, so that we could divert our resources. [...] But I repeat once again: the Ukrainian Armed Forces under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief, the General Staff, and teams of professional combat officers are ready for any scenario," Reznikov said.

op

While citing and using any materials on the Internet, links to the website ukrinform.net not lower than the first paragraph are mandatory. In addition, citing the translated materials of foreign media outlets is possible only if there is a link to the website ukrinform.net and the website of a foreign media outlet. Materials marked as "Advertisement" or with a disclaimer reading "The material has been posted in accordance with Part 3 of Article 9 of the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" No. 270/96-VR of July 3, 1996 and the Law of Ukraine "On the Media" No. 2849-Х of March 31, 2023 and on the basis of an agreement/invoice.

© 2015-2024 Ukrinform. All rights reserved.

Extended searchHide extended search
By period:
-