On the border with Ukraine

Belarus begins major military maneuvers

In the first part of the exercise, the troops are to be deployed to the designated maneuver areas and fortify their positions there.(Bild: AFP/Handout / TELEGRAM / @modmilby / AFP)

Russia's close ally Belarus has launched an extensive military maneuver. According to information from Minsk, operational command units, special forces, missile troops, artillery, air force and air defense are involved. 

The Ministry of Defense in Minsk did not provide any details on the number of soldiers deployed or the technology used on Friday. In the first part of the exercise at least, the troops are to be deployed to the designated maneuver areas and fortify their positions there. 

The actual combat exercises should then begin. Training areas in the Brest region on Belarus' western border with Poland and in the Gomel region in the east on the border with Russia have been named. Both regions also border Ukraine from the north.

Close friendship with Russia
Belarus is closely allied with Russia under the dictatorial ruler Alexander Lukashenko. Moscow has stationed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus and has also used the neighboring country as a deployment zone for the war against Ukraine.