May 26, 202211:12 PM GMT+7
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President
Alexander Lukashenko walk during a meeting in Sochi, Russia May 23, 2022.
Sputnik/Ramil Sitdikov/Kremlin via REUTERS
May 26 (Reuters) - Belarus leader Alexander
Lukashenko on Thursday ordered the creation of a new military command for the
south of country, bordering Ukraine.
"A new front has opened and we can't
fail to pay attention to it," Lukashenko, wearing military uniform, told a
televised meeting of defence officials.
He said the new command had been proposed
last year but needed to be set up immediately.
"Even before creating it, we are obliged
today - quickly, on the run, to work out the defence of our southern
borders," Lukashenko said.
Belarus is a close ally of Russia and allowed
it to launch the northern prong of its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine from
Belarusian territory.
Any build-up of Belarusian forces near the
border will further stretch Ukraine's military as it defends against Russian
attacks focused on the Donbas region hundreds of miles (km) to the east.
Belarus said earlier this month it planned to deploy special
operations troops in three areas near the border with Ukraine, as Lukashenko
talked up the role of Russian-made missiles in boosting the country's
defences. read more
Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Catherine Evans
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