Lukashenko on possible provocations: those violating Belarus’ state border should be destroyed
During today’s visit to the Oshmyany District site where activities are being carried out to check the combat readiness of formations and military units, the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, ordered a tough response to possible provocations on the border from neighbouring states, BelTA reports
“I will say publicly: any provocation must be stopped by armed means. There is no point in joking with them. If they violated the state border, they should be destroyed. No one should be too soft with anyone. And we will also be tough,” said the Head of State. “Therefore, those who violate the state border of Belarus should be destroyed. They understand only power.”
As Сommander of the North-Western Operational Command Aleksandr Naumenko reported, at present the situation in the north-western operational direction remains difficult and tends to escalate. This is confirmed by the engineering structures being created near Belarus’ state border in the border area in the form of anti-tank ditches, firing positions, as well as the concentration of logistics and ammunition in warehouses.
The neighbouring side has strengthened the security of the state border in the north-western operational direction. The total number of forces involved there in protecting the Belarusian section of the state border is about 3,200 people, including up to 2,800 people in Lithuania and up to 500 in Latvia.
The number of NATO military contingents located in the north-western operational direction as part of various tasks is up to 7,700 troops on the territory of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Military units and divisions of NATO joint armed forces, including in the Baltic States and Poland, are engaged in operational and combat training.
Aleksandr Naumenko noted that the Quadriga 2024 military drills are currently being held in a range of countries, including Lithuania and Poland. As part of the ongoing exercise, three battalions (German infantry and mechanised battalions and a US tank battalion) are concentrated at the Pabrade training ground (15km from the state border).
At the same time, the battalions located at the Pabrade training ground may be used for provocations near the state border with the involvement of sabotage and reconnaissance groups, alongside illegal armed groups.
Aerial reconnaissance is also conducted against Belarus, with 4-5 reconnaissance aircraft sorties recorded every day on average. 132 combat aircraft from the NATO aviation group are currently based in the north-western operational direction.
“Do they seriously think that we and the Russians will attack them? Why are they digging anti-tank ditches?.. We are not going to go there,” the Head of State noted.
In this regard, Aleksandr Naumenko stated that any preparation for war and waging a war always mean economic benefit for someone.
“We must not relax. We are sure that if we calm down somewhere, they will attack us. This is for sure. But we are not going to go there,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
