Pentagon responds to Belarusian helicopters crossing Polish airspace

Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder made the statement at a briefing.

Asked by a journalist about security concerns on NATO's eastern flank after the incident on the Belarusian-Polish border, the general said that there was nothing to announce at this time about any additional changes in the position of NATO forces.

"You know, when it comes to Polish defense, I'd refer you to the Polish Ministry of Defense, other than to say that, again, we will continue to take NATO's security very seriously and we will continue to work together with our NATO allies to ensure that every square inch of NATO remains safe," Ryder emphasized.

The situation on border of Poland and Belarus

On February 23, Poland tightened security measures on the border with Russia and Belarus.

In June, a car with Polish border guards, including two officers, came under fire on the border of Poland and Belarus. It is currently unknown who fired at the car. On June 16, Polish border guards called the shelling of the car at the border an escalation of the situation.

After the mutiny of Wagner PMC leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in late June, the Kremlin announced the relocation of mercenaries to Belarus. On June 27, self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko confirmed the arrival of Yevgeny Prigozhin in the country.

In early July, Poland reinforced its border with Belarus with 500 police officers. On July 8, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak reported that additional forces, including over 1,000 soldiers and about 200 pieces of military equipment, were being deployed to the border.

Later, on July 23, self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko announced the desire of mercenaries from the Russian Wagner PMC stationed in his country to "go on an excursion" to Poland. Later that day, it was reported that the tenth column of Wagner mercenaries, which included at least 10 pieces of equipment, arrived in Belarus.

On July 27, the National resistance Center reported that units of Wagner PMC were looking for people in Belarus who were ready to fight against Lithuania and Poland.

On July 29,Deputy Minister of the Interior of Lithuania Arnoldas Abramavičius reported that Poland and Lithuania could close the border with Belarus due to Wagner provocations.

On August 1, the Polish Ministry of Defense confirmed that two Belarusian helicopters had violated the country's airspace during "exercises." At the same time, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus denied the statements of the Polish side, saying that Warsaw needed the allegations of violation of Polish airspace to "justify the build-up of forces and means near the Belarusian border."