A delegation headed by the commander of Russia’s ground forces, Oleg Salyukov, visited Belarus on Thursday to inspect the combat readiness of a joint force stationed there, the Belarusian defence ministry says.
The visit took place a day after Salyukov was named as one of the deputy commanders of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine in the latest of a series of reshuffles. Russia and its close ally Belarus have beefed up their joint military grouping in Belarus and plan to hold joint aviation drills there from next Monday.
The exercises form part of a pattern of activity that has prompted Ukraine to warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin may try to use Belarus to launch a new ground invasion of Ukraine from the north.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko allowed Putin to use his country as one of the launchpads to invade Ukraine last February, when Russian forces were beaten back in an attempt to take the capital Kyiv.
Military analysts say Russia has also used Belarusian facilities to train up newly mobilised soldiers who were called up last September to boost its forces in Ukraine. However, Belarus has not sent its own troops into Ukraine in support of Russia’s “special military operation”there.
Source: eNCA
In other news – Babes Wodumo’s sister, Nondumiso Simelane speaks out
Babes Wodumo’s sister Nondumiso Simelane, has opened up about how the “Gqom Queen” is coping with the unexpected passing of her husband, Mandla “Mampintsha” Maphumulo. Member of Mzansi’s renowned Kwaito group Big Nuz Mampintsha died on 24 December 2022 at the age of 40.
This was just days after his record label issued a statement that he had suffered a stroke that landed him in hospital. Learn more
