Tensions Rise as Belarus and Ukraine Bolster Border Troops

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claims Ukraine has deployed over 120,000 troops near Belarus' border, prompting Belarus to station nearly a third of its military along the frontier. Amid assertions of potential war, Ukrainian officials refute significant changes, maintaining rhetoric heats up the already tense situation.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated on Sunday that Ukraine had deployed over 120,000 troops at its border with Belarus, prompting Minsk to station almost a third of its military along the entire border. The Belta state news agency reported Lukashenko's comments.

Aligned strongly with Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko's remarks come amid a Ukrainian incursion into Russia which began on Aug. 6. Thousands of Kyiv's troops breached Russia's western border, significantly embarrassing Putin's military establishment. Lukashenko told Russian state television, 'Seeing their aggressive policy, we have introduced and placed our military at certain points along the entire border as a defense measure in case of war.'

Kyiv did not respond to requests for comment. Ukrainian border service spokesperson Andriy Demchenko told Ukrainska Pravda that the border situation with Belarus remains unchanged. He stated, 'Lukashenko's rhetoric remains consistently escalatory, aiming to please the terrorist country. We do not observe any increase in Belarusian equipment or personnel near our border.'

Lukashenko did not specify the number of troops deployed by Minsk. Belarus' army comprises around 48,000 professional soldiers and approximately 12,000 state border troops, according to the 2022 Military Balance report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin noted on Friday a high likelihood of armed provocation from Ukraine, maintaining that the border situation remains tense.

Lukashenko warned that the Belarusian-Ukrainian border is more heavily mined than ever, indicating massive losses for Ukrainian troops attempting to cross it. (Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Alison Williams and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

(With inputs from agencies.)