The Belarusian authorities assure that the exercises which will begin with Russia on Monday are “purely defensive in nature”.
Belarus has indicated that military air exercises with Russia starting on Monday were defensive in nature, to prepare for potential combat situations, an announcement that comes amid growing concerns that Moscow is pushing Minsk to join the offensive in Ukraine.
In a message posted on the Telegram account of the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, a senior representative of the National Security Council assured that the maneuvers, which must last until February 1, were “purely defensive in nature”.
A rear base to launch an offensive?
“It will be a set of measures to prepare our air force and the Russian air force to carry out relevant combat missions,” added Pavel Muraveyko, indicating that the exercises would include “air reconnaissance” and the diversion of strikes. aerial.
As before the launch, on February 24, of what it calls “the special military operation” in Ukraine, Russia has amassed soldiers in Belarus, where military activities have multiplied. Moscow had used its allied country as a rear base to launch an offensive against kyiv in particular, via northern Ukraine.
The situation raises fears in kyiv and the West that Russia is relying on Belarus to carry out a new ground attack in the region, a scenario for which Ukraine is preparing, as claimed last week by its President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Moscow denies pressuring Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to play a more active role in the conflict. And Minsk repeats not wanting to intervene directly.
