Russian propagandists distort Minister of Defense of Belarus statement to inflame situation

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.

Thus, Minister of Defense of Belarus, Viktor Khrenin, made a statement about preparation of bordering NATO member states for military operations.

ISW emphasizes that although Khrenin's comments include several possible types of military operations, Russian media and milblogger reported that his statement directly refers to NATO's preparations for offensive operations in the eastern direction.

Analysts also point out that accusations are absurd.

They believe that Russian military personnel used Khrenin's words as incitement to strengthen informational conditions for putting pressure on Belarusian officials in order to further support Russian offensive campaign in Ukraine.

At the same time, experts claim that words of Minister of Defense of Belarus are part of information operation aimed at drawing attention of Ukrainian forces to northern direction.

Website of the Institute for the Study of War says that Khrenin made comments about NATO's military activity on the borders with Belarus in support of current information operation. It foresees that Ukrainian Armed Forces will be on the border with Belarus in response to the threat of the country entering war.