Lithuania announces closing of two border crossing points with Belarus

DELFI reported the information.

The decision was made in order to adequately respond to changes in the geopolitical situation, threats to national security and prevent smuggling of goods.

In case of termination of passage through the border checkpoints of Šumskas and Tverečius, control officers will be transferred to another checkpoint, and traffic flows will be directed to Medininkų, which has been reconstructed and equipped with an X-ray control system.

Currently, only passenger cars pass through Šumskas, while cars and vehicles with empty cargo pass through Tverečius.

There is 1 checkpoint on Poland's border with Belarus, 2 on the Latvian border, and 6 on the Lithuanian border.

Director General of the Customs Department Darius Žvironas believes that the closing of the Šumskas and Tverečius checkpoints will not disrupt the shipment of goods across the border with Belarus.

How the Wagner soldiers ended up in Belarus

After the mutiny of Wagner PMC leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in late June, the Kremlin announced the relocation of Wagner mercenaries to Belarus.

On June 27, self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko confirmed the arrival of Yevgeny Prigozhin in the country. According to him, Wagner mercenaries  who arrived with him will not guard the Russian tactical nuclear weapons deployed there. However, Lukashenko emphasized that he expects the mercenaries to help in the defense of Belarus, without specifying the potential source of the country's perceived threat.

Later, on July 23, self-appointed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko announced the desire of the mercenaries from the Russian Wagner PMC to "go on an excursion" to Poland. The same day, it was reported that the tenth column of Wagner's mercenaries, which included at least ten pieces of equipment, had arrived in Belarus.

The ISW stated that there is no evidence that Wagner's mercenaries in Belarus have the heavy weapons necessary for a serious offensive against Ukraine or Poland.

On July 25, the 11th column of Wagner's mercenaries arrived in Belarus, this time with armored vehicles. The convoy included at least 29 vehicles. It was also revealed  who led them in Belarus.

On July 27, the National Resistance Center reported that Wagner PMC units were looking for people in Belarus who were ready to fight against Lithuania and Poland. Also the same day Belarusian Hajun monitoring group reported that the twelfth column of Wagner's PMC, which included at least 50 pieces of equipment, had arrived in Belarus.

On July 28, 13th convoy of mercenaries with at least 80 vehicles arrived in Belarus. 

On July 29, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that more than 100 Wagner fighters had gone to the Suwalki corridor. Poland and Lithuania were considering closing their borders with Belarus due to concerns about the presence of mercenaries from the Russian Wagner PMC.

On July 31, the Wagner PMC had suspended the work of its regional recruitment centers "indefinitely." And Prigozhin revoked the vacations of employees and ordered them to arrive in Belarus by August 5.

Another location of Wagner PMC was discovered in Belarus near Asipovichy, where mercenaries are using warehouses.

On August 3, Wagner PMC mercenaries settled in Belarus near the border with Lithuania, in the city of Grodno. President Gitanas Nausėda is concerned about the security situation.

Lithuania revealed on August 4 that it intends to close two out of the six border crossings with Belarus to mitigate the potential for border provocations and threats.

On August 6, on the Latvian-Belarusian state border, border guards from Belarus helped 4 migrants get through the fence and illegally enter the neighboring country. Lithuania called it a provocation. 

On August 7, military exercises started in Belarus. The training grounds are located next to the Suwalki Corridor, a section between Poland and Lithuania, Belarus, and Russia's Kaliningrad region.

On August 8, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak granted the request of the Border Guard Commander and ordered additional soldiers to reinforce the border with Belarus.  

Simultaneously, Rustamas Liubajevas, the head of the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service, remarked that the situation near Belarus remained tense yet manageable. In light of the potential for provocations, there is contemplation about deploying more law enforcement officers along the border.