Russia to station up to 9,000 troops on Belarus' border

"Russian servicemen who are part of the (regional grouping) began to arrive in Belarus," a Belarussian defense ministry official stated.

By REUTERS

OCTOBER 16, 2022 15:31

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 25, 2022 (photo credit: VIA REUTERS) — Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 25, 2022

(photo credit: VIA REUTERS)

The defense ministry in Minsk on Sunday said just under 9,000 Russian troops would be stationed in Belarus as part of a "regional grouping" of forces to protect its borders.

"The first troop trains with Russian servicemen who are part of the (regional grouping) began to arrive in Belarus," Valeriy Revenko, head of the defense ministry's international military cooperation department, wrote on Twitter. "The relocation will take several days.

Учение "Защитник Европы-2022" практически уже неделю в активной фазе. При этом пока никто из государств-участников не рассматривает возможность придания ему хотя бы минимального признака транспарентности
— Валерий Ревенко (@Revenka_Valery) May 19, 2022

"The total number will be a little less than 9,000 people."

More information would be provided at a briefing for military attachés, he added.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon in Dushanbe, Tajikistan October 11, 2022 (credit: REUTERS/DIDOR SADULLOEV)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said last week that his troops would deploy with Russian forces near the Ukrainian border, citing what he said were threats from Ukraine and the West.