Belarus, Russia extend joint military exercises amid Ukraine tensions | 20-02-22
— “The joint military drills of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus will continue beyond their original schedule due to rising tensions in eastern Ukraine, Belarussian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said on Sunday.

The announcement came amid increasing military activity near the borders of Russia and Belarus and an escalating situation in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, which is controlled by pro-Russian rebels.”

Belarus’s defence minister, General Viktor Khrenin, said Russian soldiers would stay indefinitely in Belarus after large-scale joint drills were completed on Sunday.

Per the Minister, such move was necessary because of the “escalation of the situation” in the Donbas, in the east of Ukraine.

Such contingency includes 30,000 combat troops, elite Spetsnaz units, Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 anti-missile defense systems.

“Lukashenko has lost independence in decision-making.

“Tikhanovskaya’s office commented on the continuation of the exercises — “In the office of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, they demanded the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Belarus.

Representatives of the headquarters will seek to ensure that this issue is submitted to the UN Security Council, and also called on the EU for new sanctions “that hit the regime, not the people.”

This is stated in a statement from the office of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.”

Belarus Minister of Defense Viktor Khrenin speaks as if his words were direct from Putin

— “We do not want war, but they do not hear us and do not want to hear

The General Staffs of Belarus and Russia will develop further steps aimed at preventing war in the region.

“Therefore, an appropriate grouping of troops has been created, which, if necessary, will give an appropriate rebuff,” he said.”