Ukrainian army is based near Belarusian border
2023.01.11 14:36
Ukrainian army is based near Belarusian border
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – As Kyiv’s forces prepared for the possibility of a new assault across a new front in the north, the crackle of gunfire and the roar of armored vehicles reverberated around sleepy towns in west Ukraine near the border with Belarus.
Ukraine is concerned that Russia might attempt to drive toward Kyiv, as it did during its February invasion, or build up forces on the Belarusian territory of its ally.
Russia would force Kyiv’s forces, which have been focused for months on battles raging in the east and south, to divert their resources to the north by reopening a northern front.
On the sidelines of military drills that were taking place in three secret locations in the northwest of Ukraine, Colonel Roman Voloschuk of the 104th Territorial Defence brigade attempted to project strength.
They may attempt, but we are prepared for them. We’ve prepared, and we’ve dug up every junction and turn. Every building will mount a massive resistance,” he told Reuters.
His territorial defense unit’s soldiers said they were well-prepared to deal with any new threat, one of hundreds of militias formed shortly before Russia’s invasion on February 24.
Artur Horodniuk, a 28-year-old machine gunner, stated, “They will get their comeuppance… we are waiting for them.”
Kyiv’s troops practiced urban warfare on Wednesday, firing assault rifles, driving armored vehicles, and releasing hostages in preparation for any potential attack on Ukraine.
During a separate exercise in the snow-covered countryside, troops practiced ambushing and eliminating reconnaissance groups, which were a feature of the initial Russian assault on Belarus that Moscow abandoned in early April.
Voloschuk stated that the mild winter thus far would aid defense efforts due to the fact that river levels were higher than usual and many of his soldiers were battle-trained from fighting last year.
Even though Russian forces have exerted enormous pressure on the eastern town of Soledar recently, they have been on the back foot on the battlefield for months. A sudden assault from Belarus would represent an astonishing shift in dynamics.
According to Konrad Muzyka, the head of the defense analysis firm Rochan Consulting, there has been a slow buildup of Russian forces in Belarus, but it is much less than the force that invaded northern Ukraine in February.
Nonetheless, he added, a Russian offensive was conceivable and a push into west Ukraine could jeopardize weapons supply lines from Europe.
The commander of Ukraine’s Joint Forces, Serhiy Nayev, stated that Ukraine had sufficient troops to counter the current threat and would match any necessary increases on the other side of the border.
He stated, “At this time, the balance of forces and equipment between our side and the enemy is not in their favor.”
According to local Ukrainian commanders, there are 15,000 Russian troops in Belarus, which is insufficient for a significant offensive.
Since a few months ago, Belarus has seen a lot of military activity, from joint exercises to the creation of a joint regional Belarusian-Russian military force.
Even though Minsk has stated that it will not enter the war, speculation arose that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s December visit to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko preceded an attack on Ukraine, possibly with the direct involvement of the Belarusian army.
Muzyka said there was a 50-50 chance that Belarus would join Russia’s side, noting that the military training exercises there were the most intense since the Cold War. He added that Belarus could send anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 conscripts to the war, but its out-of-date equipment would not give it new capabilities.
“Ukrainian general Nayev has now downplayed the threat of a new offensive from across the border, despite talking up the danger in comments last month.” He stated, “We do not see an increase in the presence of Russian troops on Belarusian territory,” but he added that anything could happen in the future.
More Russia claims capture of Ukrainian city of Soledar and heavy losses of mercenaries
