According to Ukrainian border authorities and independent Belarusian war monitors, the Russian military has withdrawn its regional task force from neighboring Belarus.
In October 2022, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced the deployment of a joint regional group of military forces, accusing Ukraine of planning an attack on his country.
The State Border Service of Ukraine stated on Thursday that the majority of Russia’s forces in Belarus have been rotated out.
“No new units have been brought in,” said spokesperson Andrii Demchenko during a press briefing. He also added that the current number of Russian troops in Belarus does not pose an immediate threat of invading Ukraine from the north.
According to the Belarusian war monitoring project Belarussky Hajun, Russian personnel completely withdrew from Belarus in early July, while the entire aviation group followed in early August.
The war monitor reported that 11 attack and transport helicopters, as well as nine fighter jets, have returned to their home airfields in Russia.
However, approximately 2,500 fighters for the Wagner mercenary outfit, who agreed to be stationed in Belarus after a failed mutiny, still appear to be in Belarus, as reported by Russia’s investigative outlet iStories.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has not commented on the reported withdrawal of its troops.
Belarusian President Lukashenko, a long-time ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has faced accusations of facilitating Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by allowing Russian forces to operate from Belarusian territory.
Although officially remaining non-belligerent in the conflict, Belarus has provided logistical support to Russia’s military, especially during the initial weeks of the war.
Like Russia, Belarus has also been targeted by Western sanctions due to Russia’s assault on Ukraine.
