By KYIV. Jan 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The situation along the border with Belarus is fully controllable but still remains rather tense, joint exercise of Russia and Belarus keeps the situation in this direction constantly escalated, Spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Andriy Demchenko has said.
"Speaking about the escalation of the situation, yes – even with their joint drills Russia and Belarus constantly aggravate the situation in this direction. In addition, we can see that Belarus and its infrastructure are used as a base for this joint exercise. It has been lasting for a long time. Now they have announced flight drills. Before that, they announced only exercise for ground units," he said on the air of the national telethon on Monday.
Demchenko stressed that no movement of military equipment, aviation flights, or other provocations was recorded directly near the border.
"However, such maneuvers, aggravation of the situation with the so-called build-up of troops of the allied country constantly escalate the situation. Of course, we have to keep the necessary forces and equipment in this direction to retreat the enemy in case of an attempt to invade the territory of Ukraine. And we are unable to use these forces in more important directions, where full-fledged military operations are taking place," he said.
The Border Guard Services emphasized that the situation along the state border remains controllable but still rather tense.
"Ukraine never dismissed a possibility that Russian troops could resume invasion from the Belarus direction, we can see that Russia poses active pressure on Belarus," Demchenko said.
Earlier, the Defense Ministry of Belarus said Russia and Belarus would hold joint tactical flight drills on January 16 through February 1.
