Владимир Белый. Скриншот видео
The situation on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border remains difficult but predictable. Ukraine is not taking deliberate measures to escalate tensions, but is exerting psychological pressure on residents of Belarus’s border areas. This was stated by the chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces, Uladzimir Bely, in an interview with ONT television.
“When an open, active armed conflict is taking place on the territory of your southern neighbour, the situation here cannot be 100% calm. It has not reached any kind of crisis point,” Bely said.
He accused Ukraine of making allegations against Belarus and of viewing Belarus as a staging ground for threats against Ukraine.
“This accusatory rhetoric is linked to the political processes taking place both within Ukraine and around it externally. Today, virtually the entire area is mined. All the bridges there have been blown up, everything has been dug up. We constantly hear these reproaches and accusations. We are constantly operating in an environment of provocations,” Bely said.
The chief of the General Staff said that Ukraine was not escalating tensions at the border, but was exerting influence on the Belarusian population in border areas.
“Yes, such things, taking into account the political processes caused by various difficulties, could lead to this difficult situation developing into border incidents. At the same time, we see that there are no deliberate measures by Ukraine to escalate the situation. Yes, there is very powerful information and psychological pressure on our border population, there is pressure on our servicemen, but this is not developing into any kind of active phase,” Bely said.
He said Belarus maintains a group of troops on the border with Ukraine “that will allow for a rapid and adequate response.” These include special operations forces, territorial defence and people’s militia units. Preparations are also nearing completion for infrastructure for a new airborne formation to be stationed in the Homiel region.
“A system of countermeasures has been established. We have already discussed the development and reform of the armed forces, and one such element, if we are talking about the southern direction, is the systematic creation of an airborne formation that will be stationed in the Homiel region.
Today, we are already completing the infrastructure facilities and finalising the training of officers, as well as equipment and armaments. This formation is also intended to cover and protect these crisis areas,” the chief of the General Staff said.
According to him, the situation at the border remains difficult but predictable and stable.