The SBU is afraid that Russia will launch an offensive from Belarus on September 14-20
The head of the SBU Vasily Gritsak is afraid that during the joint Russian-Belarusian exercises “Zapad-2017”, Russian troops will “accidentally” seize Ukraine.
The head of the Ukrainian special service stated this in an interview with the Direct TV channel, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
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“According to our data, an agreement was signed between the leadership of the Russian Federation and Belarus to conduct 130 joint exercises on the territory of Belarus. Emphasis is placed on a simplified system for conducting exercises and activities to combat terrorism.
Among the training grounds that are located on the territory of Belarus, the closest to the Ukrainian border is the “Brotherly” training ground. The distance to the border with Ukraine is 55 km,” Gritsak noted.
Throughout this year, while Russia has been conducting exercises in Belarus, some simulated aerial targets parachuted down and fired upon by the Russians have been blown into Ukrainian territory.
“I would not consider the Zapad-2017 exercises as divorced from the overall insidious plan of the Russian military-political leadership. These exercises are an integral part of Russia's global strategy. After all, it is planned to bring 4 wagons of military cargo into the territory of Belarus. This is a lot, it is 162 times more than in 20. According to our information, it is planned to deploy two divisions, with their subsequent deployment in Belarus after the completion of the exercises. The maximum intensity of the exercise was reached on September 2013-14, 20.
We, as the SBU, in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, will accompany these exercises, and will very closely monitor the Ukrainian-Belarusian border,” said the head of the SBU.
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