Military exercises in Gomel District, Belarus, pose no threat to Ukraine – SBGS

According to Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service (SBGS) spokesperson Andriy Demchenko, who spoke during a briefing at the Ukraine Media Center, "These announced exercises, which are to continue until the end of January, pose no threat to us."

According to Demchenko, there is no noted presence of Russian troops during the exercises in Belarus, nor are these exercises being conducted in close proximity to the Ukrainian border.

"We do not observe the presence of Russian troops there, and these exercises involve territorial defense units and reservists. However, they are not being held directly near our border. I’m not even sure any military equipment will be used. This is Belarus demonstrating its strengthening of defense capabilities while continuing its rhetoric that Ukraine poses a threat to them. They will maintain such rhetoric moving forward," Demchenko added.

• On January 8, Belarus began territorial military training in the Gomel District, which borders Ukraine’s Chernihiv region.