The situation along the line of the border with Belarus remains completely controlled, but strong enough, the speaker of the State Border Service of Ukraine Andrei Demchenko said, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
“Regarding the escalation of the situation, yes: both the Russian Federation and Belarus, even with its joint exercises, constantly aggravates the situation in this direction. In addition, we see that Belarus is actively used as a platform for these joint teachings. They are already lasting long. Now they have announced the exercises of aviation, before that only the exercises of the land units have been announced, ”he said.
Demchenko emphasized that the movement of equipment, aviation flights, or other provocations are not fixed directly near the border.
“But with such maneuvers, the escalations of the situation on building up the so -called regional grouping of the troops of the Union State, they constantly pump the situation. Of course, we are forced to keep the necessary amount of forces and funds in this direction, so that in case of attempts to invade Ukraine, to repulse the enemy. And we cannot use these forces in more important directions where full -fledged fighting is being underway, ”he said.
At the same time, Demchenko noted that Ukraine never discarded (the possibility of it) that the invasion of Russian units may resume from Belarus.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus reported that Russia and Belarus will hold joint flight-tactical exercises from January 16 to February 1.