Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said this during a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, LRT reports.
The leaders met to discuss border security issues and potential threats related to the activities of the Wagner PMC in Belarus. They also discussed possible provocations and readiness to respond to them. Nausėda also shared information about the location of mercenaries near the Lithuanian border.
Nausėda emphasized that the presence of the Wagner PMC in Belarus is an additional and very important security risk factor - we have to be alert and ready for any scenario.
"The number of Wagner PMC militants stationed in Belarus already exceeds 4,000. Some of them have approached our border, taking up positions near Grodno, which means that this situation is very convenient for organizing provocations both on the border of Poland and Belarus and on the border of Lithuania and Belarus," the Lithuanian president said.
According to him, security measures have already been taken, the protection of the Lithuanian border has been strengthened, and plans for covering the border have been prepared and updated, which include reinforcement by the army.
The head of state warns not to look down on the Wagner soldiers: "This is a serious force, these are not some inexperienced guys who do not know how to handle weapons. These are people who have gained combat experience on the battlefield, they are really very dangerous."
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.
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, a sixth convoy with Wagner PMC fighters arrived in Belarus.
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."
On July 20, it was reported that another convoy with Wagner fighters arrived in Belarus, which became the ninth since Wagner moved to Belarus, Belarusian Hajun monitoring group writes.
As of the morning of July 20, Wagner mercenaries continue to arrive in Belarus, but do not pose a threat to Ukraine.
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.
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.