Ukraine Reinforces Defence of Its Northern Border Due To Exercises in Belarus

On 1 September, the six-day Combat Brotherhood 2023 operational and strategic exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) member states began in Belarus. Events are planned at six training grounds in the Brest, Grodno, and Minsk regions.

The Ukrainian military is closely monitoring these exercises and adequately reacting to changes in the operational combat situation. Before the large-scale aggression against Ukraine, Russia, under the guise of exercises, had redeployed a significant part of its troops to Belarus, from where the attack on Kyiv took place.

“A few words about the Combat Brotherhood 2023 exercises, which started today in Belarus and will last until 6 September. According to military science, we always respond adequately to any changes in the operational combat situation. This is simple but very necessary military work. Commanders were given clear tasks to reinforce the defence of Ukraine’s state border and increase vigilance at all combat positions. We are aware that anything can be expected from the enemy,” said Serhiy Nayev, commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

He added that a potential enemy must understand that the Ukrainian military is always ready to react accordingly.

The other day, Nayev stated that the situation on the border with Belarus was fully controlled by the Ukrainian side, and no drastic changes were foreseen.

“The Russian ground component in its entirety has been withdrawn from Belarus and is part of the reserve of the joint grouping of the Russian army, parts of which carry out the offensive in the direction of Kupyansk/Lyman. At the same time, a series of CSTO joint exercises (Echelon, Search, Interaction) are planned to be held in the territory of Belarus this September, which can be used as a legitimisation of increasing military presence,” the commander informed.

He emphasised that Russia had not yet achieved its strategic goals, so the search for new reasons to renew active actions from the northern direction was not excluded in the future, in particular, the organisation of provocations by the enemy and acts of sabotage on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border.

Bohdan Marusyak