Russia has about 2,800 servicemen in Belarus – Ukrainian general

April 26, BPN. Some 2,800 troops are present in Belarus as part of the joint regional group of forces, Serhii Naiev, commander of the joint forces of the Ukrainian army, told Ukrinform.

In the north, Russia has two groups close to the Ukrainian borders, deployed in the southern areas of Belarus and in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk provinces, with a total number of about 17,000 troops, he said.

The Ukrainian security forces are in control as Russia continues to attack border areas in Sumy and Chernihiv regions and carry out air reconnaissance to locate critical civilian facilities and Ukrainian air defense systems, Naiev said.

Russian military aircraft and helicopters are stationed at Belarusian military airfields, he added.

On April 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied existence of any threats of an invasion from Belarus.

In February 2022, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine. Alaksandr Łukašenka admitted that Belarus participated in Russia’s war on Ukraine, but said it was “not killing anyone.”

Authorities in Minsk denied Belarusian army troops’ involvement in combat operations on the Russian side. However, Belarus allowed Russian troops and weapons to move freely through the country, use its airspace, refuel and store military equipment and attack Ukraine from its territory.