Ukrainian MFA Calls on Belarus to Pull Back Troops from Northern Border

25 August, 2024 Belarusian servicemen. Photos from open sources The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has called on Belarus to withdraw its troops from the Ukrainian border to a distance beyond the range of the neighboring country's combat systems.

The press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Armed Forces of Belarus are concentrating military personnel, equipment, tanks, artillery, MLRS and air defense systems in the Gomel region near Ukraine's northern border under the guise of exercises. In addition, mercenaries of the Russian private military company Wagner were spotted at the borders.

Polonez MLRS.

Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Belarus.

"We call on the officials of Belarus not to make tragic mistakes for their country under pressure from Moscow, and on its armed forces to stop hostile actions and withdraw their troops from the state border of Ukraine to a distance exceeding the range of destruction of the fire systems available in Belarus," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said in a statement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasizes that Ukraine has never taken and is not going to take any unfriendly actions against the Belarusian people. "We warn that in the event of a border violation, Ukraine will use all necessary measures for self-defense, and all troop concentrations, facilities, and supply routes in Belarus will become legitimate targets for the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine concluded.

The number of Belarusian troops on the border

The Belaruski Gayun monitoring group details that the number of military personnel is about 1,100, and this number does not pose a threat to Ukraine.

The monitoring group also draws attention to the fact that the troops are located 50 kilometers from the border with Ukraine.

Illustrative photo of the Belarusian SOF operator. Photo from open sources

Militarnyi reported on August 8 that Belarus continues to deploy units of the Special Operations Forces on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border. It is reported that the total number of units at the border continues to be 400-500 people, and they are located in the same locations as before.

Deployment of the Belarusian SOF near the borders.

Source: Belaruski Gayun monitoring group

The battalion of the 103rd Separate Guards Airborne Brigade of the SOF of the Belarusian Armed Forces continues to be stationed near the Zyabrovka military air base.

In addition, a detachment of the 5th Brigade of the Special Operations Forces remains at its deployment point near Mozyr.

In July, additional forces of the Belarusian Armed Forces, deployed during the so-called "combat readiness check," were withdrawn from the border.