According to the State Border Service of Ukraine, as of July 22, there are about 5,000 Russian mercenaries of the PVK Wagner in Belarus.
Source: Speaker of the State Border Guard Service, Colonel Andriy Demchenko, in a commentary to Ukrayinska Pravda
Direct speech: “The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine continues to closely monitor the situation with the arrival and stay of Russian mercenaries in Belarus.
I note that the situation along the border line remains fully controlled by border units and other components of the defense forces of our state. All of them have been warned of further risks that may come from the territory of Belarus, which, unfortunately, is under the influence of Russia and is supporting the war unleashed against Ukraine.”
Details: Demchenko explains: in the beginning, when groups of Russian mercenaries began to enter Belarus, their number was estimated in the hundreds.
However, now, given the information available regarding groups of representatives of private military campaigns, their number, of course, is different and can reach about 5,000, the speaker of the State Border Guard Service said.
Demchenko notes that such a number does not pose an immediate threat to Ukraine, but the Defense Forces must be ready for any situation, including preventing provocations at the border.
Direct speech: “I note that Ukraine is doing everything necessary to understand the real risk and provide reliable security due to the presence of mercenaries in a neighboring country. We are reacting accordingly. Our border is being further strengthened along its entire length and strengthened with the necessary means.”
Background:
Recently, columns of militants of the so-called “PMC Wagner” have been arriving in Belarus. On July 19, information appeared about the 9th column of mercenaries moving along the M5 highway from Bobruisk in the direction of Osipovichi. The founder of the Wagner military company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, allegedly spoke to the mercenaries who arrived in Belarus and said that they would train the Belarusian army.
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2023-07-22 07:33:49
