The Belarusian president has introduced he'll deploy some forces with Russia, claiming with out proof that Ukraine was planning strikes on his nation.
The Russian ally's state-run information company, BELTA, quoted President Aleksandr Lukashenko saying the nations would "deploy a regional group of forces", citing "aggravation on the western borders".
"This complies with our paperwork. It says that if the risk degree reaches the extent as it's now, we start to make use of the Union State group of forces," he stated, referring to the supranational organisation linking Russia and Belarus.
"The premise (I've at all times stated this) of this group is the military, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
"I have to inform you that the formation of this group has begun. It has been happening for, I believe, for 2 days. I gave an order to start out forming this group."
No additional particulars had been accessible concerning what the troop deployment would contain or the place they'd be deployed.
Hundreds of Russian troops amassed in Belarus at first of the 12 months, forward of the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine, which was launched partially from Belarus' territory.
Western sanctions have focused each Russian and Belarusian officers, together with Lukashenko, who has constantly voiced his assist for Russia and attacked the West with out sending his personal troops into Ukraine.
Lukashenko's Monday morning (Monday night AEDT) announcement got here after Russia bombarded Ukrainian cities, together with the capital Kyiv, hanging civilian targets in a possible retaliation for a strike on the vital Kerch Bridge linking Russia to annexed Crimea.
A minimum of eight civilians have been killed and 24 wounded within the newest spherical of bombings throughout Ukraine, which included the primary strikes on Kyiv in 4 months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to remain inside bomb shelters, saying Russia was "making an attempt to destroy us and wipe us off the face of the earth".
Russian President Vladimir Putin known as the assault on the Kerch Bridge, for which Ukraine has not claimed duty, a "terrorist act" and claimed it was masterminded by Ukrainian particular companies.
Lukashenko claimed, with out proof, that he had been instructed of plans to hit Belarus from Ukrainian territory that may be "the Crimean Bridge two".
"I've already stated that immediately Ukraine isn't just considering, however planning strikes on the territory of Belarus," Lukashenko stated.
"After all, the Ukrainians completely don't want this. Properly, why would they should open a second entrance on our southern border which is their northern border?
"That is insanity from the standpoint of the army. Nonetheless, the method has begun.
"They're being pushed by their patrons to unleash a struggle towards Belarus in an effort to draw us in it and take care of Russia and Belarus at a time."
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Lukashenko, an autocratic chief who has dominated the ex-Soviet nation with an iron hand for practically three many years, had allowed Russian forces to collect in Belarus as a staging submit earlier than the struggle.
However there have been no indications Belarus had despatched it personal troops to Ukraine.
The US and NATO warned as early as March that Belarus may be a part of Russia's unprovoked struggle on Ukraine.
- Reported with Related Press