Belarus deploys SOF units to the border with Ukraine
Belarus has introduced a counterterrorism operation on the border with Ukraine and is deploying units of Special Operations Forces. The Belarusian monitoring group Belaruski Gayun reported on this. On February 15, the Belarusian government announced the introduction of a counterterrorism operation in the border village of Lyelchytsy, Lyelchytsy district, Gomel region.
The settlement is located just 10 kilometers from the Ukrainian-Belarusian border.
Lyelchytsy district, Gomel region, Belarus
Euroradio managed to contact the Lyelchytsy District Executive Committee. They reported that the announced "counterterrorist operation" was allegedly another exercise of the Belarusian military. It should be noted that under the law "On Combating Terrorism," during the counterterrorist operation, Belarusian law enforcement agencies can freely enter residential premises, restrict the entry and exit of civilians from the operation area.
Redeployment of the Special Operations Forces
Belaruski Gayun found out that on the same day, soldiers of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Internal Troops of Belarus were transferred by military aircraft to Lyelchytsy.
Two groups were sent from Machulishchy to Lyelchytsy on five Mi-8 helicopters of Belarusian Air Force. The first group left at 10:00 a.m., and the second at 11:35 a.m. The groups made one stop before Lyelchytsy at the Lipki airfield and in Maryina Gorka.
In Lipki, helicopters took on board soldiers of the Internal Troops, and in Maryina Gorka, they took on board soldiers of the 5th Spetsnaz Brigade of Belarusian Armed Forces. The first group of two helicopters arrived in Lyelchytsy at 11:30 a.m., and the second at 12:50 p.m. Both groups spent only 30 minutes there, after which three helicopters returned to Machulishchy and one flew to Lyelchytsy.
However, according to journalists, the soldiers who were brought to Lyelchytsy did not leave and remain in the village.
Map of Belarusian aviation movements on February 15. Photo credits: Belaruski Gayun
Spokesperson of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Andriy Demchenko, said that border guards did not record any active actions on the border with Belarus. "According to the available information, it was planned to hold some kind of regular endless exercises in this area on the territory of Belarus, which are constantly held in Belarus.
It is possible that they decided to call these exercises counterterrorism exercises.
"However, we do not observe any significant activity on the other side of the border.
We continue to strengthen our border and vigilantly defend it to prevent any provocations," said Andriy Demchenko.