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Wagner Group Trains Belarusian Special Forces near Poland, Raising Border Tensions

Mercenaries from⁣ Russia’s Wagner‍ Group have ⁣begun training ⁢Belarusian special forces​ at a ⁢military range ​near⁢ the border with⁤ Poland, ⁣according ⁤to the Belarusian ​defense ⁢ministry. The ​training⁣ is ‌taking place just ⁤three miles ​east of the​ Polish border,⁣ raising‍ concerns ⁣in Poland,⁣ a NATO member.⁤ Wagner ⁤chief ⁣Yevgeny‌ Prigozhin was seen in⁣ a ⁣video⁣ welcoming⁢ his fighters to ​Belarus, instructing them to gather their strength for future ‍operations⁢ in ‌Africa ​while training the‍ Belarusian⁤ army. The‍ Belarusian ‌defense ​ministry stated that joint ‍training ‍between the ⁣armed forces⁣ of ⁣Belarus‍ and Wagner PMC will​ continue at ⁢the Brest​ military ​range.

Pictures released ​by ⁤Minsk show masked⁤ Wagner ‍instructors ⁣training Belarusian soldiers with‍ armored⁤ vehicles‍ and drone controls.‌ Poland ‌has responded⁣ to the presence⁤ of Wagner fighters in Belarus ⁤by moving over ‍1,000 ‍troops‍ to⁤ its ‍eastern ‌border. The Polish defense ‍ministry assured​ that the country’s borders are​ secure⁣ and‍ that ‌it ⁤is‌ prepared ⁣for⁤ various⁣ scenarios as ‌the​ situation ‌develops.

The move by⁤ Poland ⁢has raised concerns in ‍Moscow, with​ Kremlin ⁤spokesman Dmitry ⁤Peskov stating that Poland’s aggressiveness‍ is‌ a​ cause‌ for concern ⁢and‍ requires heightened ​attention from⁢ Russia. ​The presence of ‌Wagner‍ fighters in ‍Belarus⁢ has been ‌interpreted‍ by ‌the West ⁤as ​a challenge ‍to President Vladimir⁢ Putin’s rule and ​a sign of​ the‌ strain⁣ the⁤ Ukraine war ⁤has ​placed on the Russian state. However,⁤ Russia‍ rejects this​ interpretation and asserts that the⁤ Russian people‍ have rallied ‌around⁣ Putin ⁢and the military.

A deal ​was⁣ struck on June​ 24 ‌for ⁤the mercenaries to move to Belarus in ​exchange for ⁢dropped​ charges ​against⁤ them.‌ Wagner has ⁢reportedly⁢ lost 22,000 fighters in‍ the Ukraine⁣ war, with ​40,000 wounded. ‌According ‍to a post by⁤ a ‌senior‌ commander, ⁢up⁤ to⁢ 10,000 Wagner​ fighters⁢ will end up⁢ in Belarus. The ​post also revealed that a⁣ total ⁣of⁤ 78,000‌ Wagner men⁢ participated⁢ in ⁢the Ukraine ⁢war, with ⁤49,000 ‍of ⁣them⁢ becoming prisoners.‌ Wagner ⁢has ​been involved⁣ in various conflicts, ⁢including the⁣ annexation of ⁤Crimea, fighting‌ against⁢ Islamic State ‍militants ‍in Syria, ‌and operations in the⁢ Central African Republic ​and ‍Mali.

The exact ‍number of ‌Wagner fighters in Belarus ‍could not ​be confirmed​ by Reuters, but‍ the figures⁣ provided by the senior ‍commander⁤ give⁤ insight ‍into the extent of the‌ losses‌ suffered by both sides in the ⁤Ukraine‍ war and the strength of ​the ‍mercenary​ group.​ The post contradicted remarks‌ by‌ a Russian ​lawmaker ​who ‌claimed ‌that 33,000 Wagner ⁣fighters had⁣ signed contracts with‌ the defense ministry.‍ The ‍situation ⁤remains tense as the training of Belarusian‌ special forces⁤ by Wagner ​continues⁤ near the Polish⁣ border.

Reporting ⁢by ‌Felix‍ Light‌ in Tbilisi and Guy ‍Faulconbridge⁤ in‌ Moscow. Editing⁢ by ‍Andrew‍ Osborn, ⁣Angus ⁤MacSwan,‌ William‍ Maclean.
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How should NATO members, particularly‌ Poland, respond to the presence of Russian mercenaries in ‌Belarus ⁣and the ⁣potential threat it poses to ⁣their ‍security

Belarus and among NATO members. The training of ⁢Belarusian special​ forces​ by⁤ Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group at a military ⁤range‍ near the Polish​ border⁢ has sparked ‍worries about potential‌ aggression or ⁢destabilization in the region.

The ⁣presence of the Wagner ‌Group in Belarus is particularly concerning for Poland, a ‌NATO member, as it raises questions⁤ about ⁤Russia’s⁣ intentions and⁢ the potential threat to its security. Yevgeny Prigozhin, ​the ⁢chief of Wagner,‍ was seen in ⁤a ⁢video ‍welcoming his fighters to Belarus and ⁣emphasizing their future operations in⁢ Africa while training the Belarusian army.




The Belarusian defense ​ministry has confirmed that‌ joint‍ training ⁣between‌ the armed forces of ‍Belarus and Wagner PMC will continue at​ the Brest military ​range. ⁣Pictures released‌ by Minsk ⁤show Wagner instructors training​ Belarusian soldiers with armored vehicles‍ and drone controls, further increasing anxiety⁢ about⁢ Russia’s⁢ activities ‌near the Polish border.


Poland responded​ to the ⁤presence of Wagner​ fighters⁣ by deploying over 1,000 ‌troops to its ⁣eastern border to ensure⁣ the country’s security. The Polish ​defense ministry⁢ has ‍assured‌ the public that ‌the country’s borders are secure and⁤ that they‍ are prepared‌ for various scenarios as⁢ the‍ situation⁤ develops.

The ​situation remains tense, ‍and ‍both Belarus and‍ Poland are ‍closely monitoring⁤ any further developments. The presence⁣ of Russian mercenaries near NATO’s borders ⁣is an alarming development and requires ongoing attention and scrutiny from ‍the​ international⁢ community.

2 thoughts on “Wagner Group Trains Belarusian Special Forces near Poland, Raising Border Tensions”

  1. This article underscores the increasing tensions at the Belarus-Poland border due to the Wagner Group’s involvement in training Belarusian special forces. The situation warrants close attention as it could have far-reaching implications for regional stability.

    Reply
  2. The proximity of Wagner Group’s training activities near Poland adds fuel to the already simmering border tensions, warranting a careful observation of the evolving situation.

    Reply

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