Russia and Belarus begin joint air force exercises in Belarus today. Minsk described the drills as “defensive”. According to unofficial military surveillance channels on Telegram, several Russian warplanes, helicopters and military transport planes have arrived in Belarus since the beginning of the year – eight warplanes and four cargo planes just yesterday. These reports could not be verified.
First Deputy State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Pavel Muraveyko wrote in Telegram that Ukraine provoked Belarus. However, he reacts with caution. “We have the necessary forces and means to respond to any manifestation of aggression or terrorist threat in our territory.”