Belarus Bolsters Border Defense Amid Rising Tensions with Ukraine

Belarus has deployed aircraft, air defense troops, and anti-aircraft missiles to its border with Ukraine. President Alexander Lukashenko announced stationing almost a third of the nation's military along the frontier, citing Ukrainian troop movements. This buildup comes amid Russia's use of Belarus as a staging ground for its invasion of Ukraine.

Belarus has significantly increased its military presence along its border with Ukraine, deploying aircraft and air defense troops. This move follows President Alexander Lukashenko's statement about stationing nearly a third of the country's military forces at the frontier.

Maj. Gen. Andrey Lukyanovich, commander of the Belarusian Air Defence Forces, confirmed the deployment of anti-aircraft missiles and soldiers from the radio-technical corps on national television. This substantial increase aims to respond to additional Ukrainian troops being deployed along the common border, although these actions could not be independently verified.

Belarus' strengthening of border defenses comes in the context of Russia using Belarusian territory to stage its invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, Russia moved some of its tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. Lukashenko also called for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, but cited Kyiv's actions in Russia's Kursk region as a barrier to talks, describing the situation as an attempt to provoke Moscow.

(With inputs from agencies.)