Lithuania to close 2 border crossing points due to Wagner’s relocation to Belarus

LRT reported the information, citing the Vice Minister of the Interior Arnoldas Abramavičius.

"While Poland currently has only one checkpoint on the border with Belarus, we have six. One of the preventive measures is to reduce their number from six to four," the vice minister said.

The border crossing points of Šumskas and Tverečius are planned to be closed, but the decision is to be made soon.

Abramavičius believes that if one country decides to close its borders, it will not produce any results, but will only worsen the situation in other countries.

"Therefore, only a single decision can be made, a regional one, like last year, when it was decided not to let Russians in," he said, adding that these actions depend on the number of provocations at the border.

According to Saulius Nekraševičius, Deputy Commander of the Border Guard Service, this decision will reduce the risk of encountering threats, "If we reduce the number of people, we will simultaneously reduce the threats."

In addition, vehicles with cargo will not pass through the Tverečius border crossing point, and only trucks up to 3.5 tons will pass through Šumskas.

The chairman of the Seimas National Security and Defense Committee (NSGK), Laurynas Kasčiūnas, also said that with Wagner PMC mercenaries in Belarus, it was only a matter of time before some Lithuanian border crossings would be closed.

"I've always said that this (closing the border with Belarus - BNS) could be an option, that we can do it. In fact, I want to say that the NSGK made such a recommendation a couple of months ago to think about closing certain border crossing points. This will definitely be done. It is possible, but if we just see that the situation is getting worse, a decision will also be made to close the border completely," Kasčiūnas said.

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. 

On June 29, a satellite recorded the construction of a tent camp near Asipovichy in the Mogilev region of Belarus, and on July 3, Russian media published a photo of an alleged Wagner camp.

On July 11, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense stated that the Wagner mercenaries would train the Belarusian army.

On July 14, media reported that training sessions with units of the territorial troops were taking place near Asipovichy (Belarus), where Wagner PMC fighters were acting as instructors in some military disciplines.

On the morning of July 15, a large convoy of cars and trucks with license plates of the so-called DPR and LPR was spotted in Belarus. Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service confirmed that those were mercenaries of the Wagner PMC.

On Sunday, July 16, the Belarusian Hajun monitoring group reported that two flags - of Russia and the Wagner PMC - had been installed at the checkpoint on the border between Belarus and Russia.

Wagner Group announced that on July 30, their main base in the Russian Federation, located in the village of Molkino in Krasnodar Krai, would be closed.

On July 19, Wagner PMC financier Yevgeny Prigozhin addressed Wagner fighters in Belarus, calling the situation at the front a "disgrace" and urging mercenaries to "wait for the moment to show their full potential."

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 Institute for the Study of War said that there are no signs that Wagner's forces in Belarus have the heavy weapons necessary for a serious offensive against Ukraine or Poland.

On July 25, the 11th Wagner convoy arrived in Belarus, this time with armored vehicles. The convoy included at least 29 vehicles. Also, the leader of the Wagner forces in Belarus was revealed.

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, the Center for National Resistance warned that Wagner mercenaries were preparing provocations on the border of Belarus with the EU. Also that day, the 13th column of mercenaries was spotted in Belarus.

On July 29, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that over 100 Wagner mercenaries had headed to the Suwalki corridor. Poland and Lithuania were considering