By India Today Web Desk: Belarusian foreign minister Vladimir Makei told a Russian newspaper that the country’s army and special services are “ready to respond to any provocations from neighbouring countries”.
Earlier this week, a flurry of military activity in Belarus raised an alarm that President Alexander Lukashenko might commit his army in support of Russia in the ongoing war with Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the US and Nato are on alert as Russia is expected to carry out large-scale drills of its nuclear forces. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said they will monitor the exercise very closely.
Here are the top points
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Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei told Russian newspaper Izvestiya that a counter-terrorist operation has been declared in the country. He added, “The country’s army and special services are ready to respond to any provocations from neighboring countries.”
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The foreign minister’s statement comes after a flurry of military activity was reported in Belarus earlier this week. The military activities served as a potential sign of President Alexander Lukashenko committing his army in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
President Lukashenko had also ordered troops to deploy with Russian forces near the Ukraine border.
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Meanwhile, Russia is expected to carry out large-scale drills of its nuclear forces as a part of its annual nuclear exercises which take place around this time of the year. The US and Nato are on alert as Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued multiple nuclear threats in the past since the war started in February.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, “We will monitor that as we always do. And of course we will remain vigilant, not least in light of the veiled nuclear threats and the dangerous rhetoric we have seen from the Russian side.”
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Meanwhile, Russian missiles attacked more than 40 Ukrainian cities and towns on Thursday, officials reported. This comes after a United Nations General Assembly resolution called Moscow’s annexation of Ukrainian territory “illegal” and Ukraine’s allies committed more military aid.
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As Putin pushed for legitimacy for his annexation, there were signs of Moscow’s weakening hold on the territory just two weeks after he signed the treaties. An official installed by Russian forces asked residents in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region to leave for safety.
The evacuees are expected to arrive in Russia on Friday.
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Meanwhile in Ukraine, the state nuclear energy company Energoatom said Russian forces have kidnapped the deputy head of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
In a post on the Telegram messaging app, Energoatom said the official, Valeriy Martynyuk, was seized on Monday and is currently being detained in an unknown location.
Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei told Russian newspaper Izvestiya that a counter-terrorist operation has been declared in the country. He added, “The country’s army and special services are ready to respond to any provocations from neighboring countries.”
The foreign minister’s statement comes after a flurry of military activity was reported in Belarus earlier this week. The military activities served as a potential sign of President Alexander Lukashenko committing his army in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
President Lukashenko had also ordered troops to deploy with Russian forces near the Ukraine border.
Meanwhile, Russia is expected to carry out large-scale drills of its nuclear forces as a part of its annual nuclear exercises which take place around this time of the year. The US and Nato are on alert as Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued multiple nuclear threats in the past since the war started in February.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, “We will monitor that as we always do. And of course we will remain vigilant, not least in light of the veiled nuclear threats and the dangerous rhetoric we have seen from the Russian side.”
Meanwhile, Russian missiles attacked more than 40 Ukrainian cities and towns on Thursday, officials reported. This comes after a United Nations General Assembly resolution called Moscow’s annexation of Ukrainian territory “illegal” and Ukraine’s allies committed more military aid.
As Putin pushed for legitimacy for his annexation, there were signs of Moscow’s weakening hold on the territory just two weeks after he signed the treaties. An official installed by Russian forces asked residents in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region to leave for safety.
The evacuees are expected to arrive in Russia on Friday.
Meanwhile in Ukraine, the state nuclear energy company Energoatom said Russian forces have kidnapped the deputy head of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
In a post on the Telegram messaging app, Energoatom said the official, Valeriy Martynyuk, was seized on Monday and is currently being detained in an unknown location.
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