About 13,000 Belarusian active and former soldiers agreed to participate in the war against Ukraine on the side of the Russian army, according to Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff, Oleksii Hromov, Babel reported.
“Six battalions of the Armed Forces of Belarus have been deployed along the state border of Ukraine and are performing tasks in the border areas with Ukraine. In general, according to available data, Russia continues to involve Belarus in a full-scale war against Ukraine. According to preliminary data, up to 13,000 people from the current and former military units of the Belarusian special operations forces, as well as the riot police, have signed their consent to participate in the war against Ukraine,” he said.
Hromov added that Russia invites foreign representatives from Syria, Mali, Laos, and Uzbekistan, who can also be thrown into battle against Ukraine, to the Belarusian training grounds.
“There are suspicions that on the eve of Ukraineʼs Independence Day, Russia may stage a provocation at the Belarusian training ground, with the death of foreigners. In order to demonize the Armed Forces of Ukraine and involve Belarus definitively in hostilities,” Hromov said.
“One cup of water per day for 8 people”: Deaths of Ukrainian POWs in Russian captivity rise, human rights group says
The Ukrainian Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR) verified 22 deaths of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) and emphasised that the defenders of Mariupol are treated with extreme cruelty, with approximately 1,300 servicemen from the 36th Separate Marine Brigade still being held in Russian captivity.
