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Belarus is not preparing fortified areas on the border with Ukraine, and what Kyiv describes as the construction of military infrastructure is in fact landscaping and the creation of recreation areas, Belarusian Defence Minister Viktar Khrenin said after briefing Aliaksandr Lukashenka on July 22, according to BelTA.
Khrenin described the military-political situation around Belarus as calm and spoke in detail about the situation on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.
According to Khrenin, Belarus currently sees no signs that Ukraine is preparing for aggressive actions on the border with Belarus.
“At present, we do not see any indications that the Ukrainian units responsible for guarding their border are preparing for any aggressive or active actions. We see that they are focused on defence. That is only logical because, despite everything being said in the information space today, they have absolutely no need for tension on our border.”, Khrenin said.
According to him, Belarus currently has a minimum number of special operations forces deployed on the Ukrainian border, where they are operating in coordination with border guards.
“The most important thing is that we must be prepared for any sudden developments. That is why we are keeping this minimum contingent of troops there.”, Khrenin explained.
Khrenin also commented on statements by the Ukrainian side regarding the construction of military infrastructure near the border with Ukraine.
“Of course, we have heard these statements, and we view them with a smile. The claims that we are preparing some kind of defensive areas… We understand perfectly well that this is being done for one purpose only: to create tension in our society and in Ukrainian society as well, driving a wedge between us and portraying us as bitter enemies. This has no basis in reality whatsoever.”, the defence minister said.
Khrenin said that, on Lukashenka’s instructions, five fortified areas had been established along Belarus’s western and northern borders, but there were no plans to create such areas on the border with Ukraine.
“This instruction has been carried out. Five fortified areas have been established along the western and northern borders and are being actively improved. As for the southern border, there are not even any plans to create fortified areas or defensive lines there.”, Khrenin said.
The defence minister said that road improvements and bridge reconstruction in southern Belarus are being carried out as part of the Polesia development programme.
“Bridge reconstruction and repairs, road improvements and the creation of new recreation areas for citizens are currently under way there. All of this is being interpreted as though some kind of military preparations are taking place. That is not true, and people should simply ignore such claims.”, Khrenin said.
Earlier, Ukraine claimed that Belarus was building ammunition and fuel storage facilities, as well as transport infrastructure for military purposes near the Ukrainian border.