Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi on Wednesday inspected the country’s northwestern border, which is shared with Belarus and Poland, and analyzed ongoing defense preparations, News.ro reports with reference to CNN.

“In order to repel a possible invasion of the enemy from the territory of Belarus, engineering barriers, fortifications and remote video surveillance systems are being built,” Zelenskyi’s office said in a statement.

“From the position of the observation post, it was demonstrated how the 24-hour monitoring of the border line is carried out with the help of remote video surveillance systems,” the message says.

President Zelensky published a video on the Telegram messenger in which he is seen meeting with border guards in a forest surrounded by barbed wire near a river in the northwestern Volyn region of Ukraine.

Zelensky, who the day before was in the east, on the front line, in Adviivka, took the opportunity to note the role of the State Border Service in protecting both the border and the city of Bakhmut. “I know how strong you stood there against Bakhmut. I would like to thank you and your brothers,” he said.

Tensions have risen along the 1,000-kilometer border between Ukraine and Belarus, a country that played a key role in supporting Russia’s invasion. Kyiv closed all checkpoints on the border with Belarus, fearing that Belarus could be used for further Russian aggression.

Joint military exercises between Belarus and Russia last year raised fears that Belarusian forces could join forces with the Kremlin to attack Ukraine.

After discussing border protection measures at a meeting in January, Zelenskyi said that Ukraine needs to “be ready” on the border with Belarus, although Kyiv does not see “anything strong” there except statements.

In a separate post, Zelensky said that on Wednesday he discussed security and socio-economic issues with the political and military leadership of the Volyn region.

In recent weeks, Zelenskyi has traveled extensively, criss-crossing the country, meeting with the military, whom he has honored and praised, and encouraging the public as Ukraine prepares for a counteroffensive in an attempt to retake territory occupied by Russia. (News.ro)