Monitoring desk
ISLAMABAD/ DNIPRO: Belarus on Monday announced air force drills with Russia that are defensive in nature. The drills started at a time when concerns grew that Moscow was pushing Minsk to join the war in Ukraine.
Defensive drills
Belarusian Security Council first deputy state secretary Pavel Muraveyko said that the drills were purely defensive in nature, according to a post on the Belarusian defence ministry’s Telegram app.
Muraveyko said that the exercises, which could last until February 1, involve training for aerial surveillance, deflecting air strikes, and air cover of virtual objects and communications.
The ongoing buildup of Russian troops in Belarus, combined with a flurry of military activity in the country, echoes what was happening there just before Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine when Moscow used the neighbouring country as a springboard to launch the attack.
This has triggered fears in Kyiv and the West that Russia could use its loyal ally to mount a new ground offensive on Ukraine.
Ukraine has continuously warned of possible attacks from Belarus as President Volodymyr Zelensky said the previous week that the war-torn country must be ready at its border with Belarus.
