Ukraine reinforces guards at the border with Belarus

Ukraine has launched a special operation on the border with Belarus, reinforcing guards by an additional 8,500 soldiers and police officers. They should prevent possible attempts to cross the border illegally. Ukrainian Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin said earlier that the current number of border guards had almost doubled.

“At the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, the threat of a migratory crisis and the likelihood of the influx of migrants redirecting to Ukraine remains, and therefore the authorities are jointly taking steps to strengthen border protection in this area,” the Ukrajinska Pravda newspaper reported.

Ukraine is also preparing to deploy the air force, including drones, to protect the border. Roadside checkpoints will arise at the borderline. The patrols will also check the bus and train stations.

The European Union accuses Alexander Lukashenko’s authoritarian regime of inducing the migration crisis in retaliation for the sanctions imposed by the EU over human rights violations and repression of the opposition. The Belarusian President denies the accusations. The media warned that the crisis could escalate further and serve Russia to invade Ukraine. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin says the country is not going to attack a neighboring state.