Belarus conducts exercises with Wagner near Polish border

Belarus announced that its army conducted exercises with members of the Wagner group at a training ground in the city of Brest, near the border with Poland.

"The Belarusian Armed Forces continue joint training with members of the Wagner private military corporation. This week, special forces units will join Wagner representatives in combat training missions at the Brest training ground," the Belarusian Defense Ministry announced today.

Poland, a NATO member state, has not yet responded to the information.

Earlier this month, Poland said it would deploy 500 police to beef up security at its border with Belarus to deal with the growing number of migrants crossing the border and any potential threats after Wagner soldiers moved into Belarus.

A week later, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced that more than 1,000 soldiers and nearly 200 pieces of equipment from the 12th and 17th Mechanized Brigades were also deployed to the border with Belarus amid concerns about Wagner's presence in Belarus, which has increased tensions.

A Wagner member trains Belarusian soldiers near the town of Osipovichi, Belarus on July 14. Photo: Reuters

Commercial satellite imagery from the US company Planet Labs taken on July 17 shows convoys of Wagner private military vehicles moving along the M5 highway in Belarus, heading to the Tsel base, located more than 100 kilometers from the capital Minsk. At least 300 tents have been erected at the base in the two weeks since Wagner forces ended their rebellion in Russia.

Independent monitoring group Belaruski Hajun said at least 60 Wagner vehicles entered Belarus on July 15 and more than 100 pieces of equipment were deployed at the Tsel base. The Belarusian Defense Ministry said on July 14 that Wagner members were training Belarusian soldiers in shooting, battlefield movement, as well as engineering and medical skills.

The Wagner troop movement is part of a deal brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to end the rebellion the group sparked in June. Under the deal, Wagner members could either travel to Belarus with the group’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, or sign a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry. The Kremlin said it would not prosecute Prigozhin or other Wagner members for their involvement in the rebellion.

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin's media agency posted a video on July 19 in which he welcomed his forces to Belarus. He called on members of his forces to treat local people well and help train the Belarusian army.

According to Wagner boss, the training of this force will make the Belarusian army "the second best army in the world". He also said that Wagner members will stay in Belarus for a while and called on them to prepare for "a new journey in Africa".

Location of Poland and Belarus. Graphic: CBC

Huyen Le (According to Reuters, Sky News )

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/belarus-dien-tap-cung-wagner-gan-bien-gioi-voi-ba-lan-4631755.html