In the near future, Russia is preparing to commit a “provocative act” on the territory of Belarus in order to involve this Moscow-allied country in the war in Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced on Thursday.

Ostrovets nuclear power plant in BelarusPhoto: Mykola Petrov / AP / Profimedia

“The special services of the Russian Federation are preparing a challenge to the territory of Belarus,” the military command warns in a video statement published on Facebook and transmitted by the “Ukrainian Pravda” publication, EFE and Agerpres agencies report.

“The Russians may target critical infrastructure facilities, including the Ostrovets nuclear power plant,” located in northwestern Belarus and near the border with Lithuania.

Faced with this situation, “the armed forces of Ukraine urgently appealed to the Belarusian people to prevent the involvement of the Republic of Belarus in Russia’s war against Ukraine,” the cited source notes.

“We will not and do not intend to take any aggressive actions on the territory of Belarus. This is the official position of Ukraine.”

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russia is “by any means” trying to draw Belarus into its war against Ukraine, so the Ukrainian army calls on Belarusians to demand from their leadership “respect Article 18 of the Constitution of Ukraine.” Republic of Belarus”, which would prevent the country from being drawn into the conflict in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian military urges Belarusians to monitor “the actions of suspicious persons and movement near critical infrastructure facilities, to inform law enforcement agencies about this, and if there is no reaction from their leadership, then the Belarusian people to inform the international community by any available means. means” of these challenges.

“Ukraine does not consider your country (Belarus) an enemy, let alone your people. We will not and do not intend to carry out any aggressive actions on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. This is the official position of Ukraine,” the statement of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasizes.

Belarus is one of Russia’s main allies in the war in Ukraine

From 10,000 to 15,000 Belarusian soldiers would be ready to fight in Ukraine if they received a reward from Russia for this, according to the estimates of the Ukrainian General Staff, quoted by Ukrainian Truth.

In Minsk, Belarusian leader Oleksandr Lukashenko, whose 2020 re-election has been contested by much of the Belarusian population and the West, said Thursday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must agree to peace talks with Russia if he wants to avoid massive casualties. and complete destruction of Ukraine, reports the same Ukrainian publication.

Belarus is one of Russia’s main allies in the war with Ukraine, and the two countries have conducted joint military exercises, EFE reminds.

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