Kiev, ‘Minsk is amassing troops, risk of hostile acts’

(ANSA) – KIEV, 25 AUG – Kiev says Belarus is “mass[ing]” troops on the border and warns of the risk of “hostile acts”. A note from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry explains that “according to information from Ukrainian intelligence, the armed forces of Belarus, under the pretext of exercises, are concentrating personnel, equipment, tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launchers and air defenses in the Gomel region, near the northern borders of Ukraine. Mercenaries from the former Wagner have also been spotted”. “The conduct of exercises near the border and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant constitutes a threat to the national security of Ukraine and to world security in general. – the statement continues – We urge Belarusian officials not to make tragic mistakes for their country under pressure from Moscow, and its armed forces to cease hostile actions and to withdraw troops from the Ukrainian state border to a distance beyond the range of the fire systems available in Belarus”. “We emphasize that Ukraine has never committed, nor does it intend to commit, any hostile action against the Belarusian people” but “we warn that in the event of a violation of the border, Ukraine will take all necessary measures for self-defense, and all troop concentrations, targets and supply routes in Belarus will become legitimate targets for the Ukrainian Armed Forces”. (ANSA).