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Lukashenko: Belarus, Russia to hold military exercise on Belarus-Ukraine border

MINSK, 2 December (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia will hold a military exercise on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview with Dmitry Kiselyov, Director General of the Russian state news agency MIA Rossiya Segodnya, BelTA has learned.

The head of state noted that Ukraine is now conducting a military exercise on the Belarusian border, involving 10,000 troops. They are also drilling warfare tactics in a wooded and swampy terrain.

"Today we need to reinforce the southern border of Belarus. The situation emerged not through the fault of ours,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. “Should not we respond? We should. I suggested to the president [of Russia] that we hold the military exercise."

According to the head of state, the Belarusian-Russian exercise will be held in two stages. The first one will begin in the "next few months." "We are still making plans, but the first stage will definitely be held in the winter. Everything is ready for this,” the president said. “They will certainly huff and puff over there but we will conduct the exercise. We will be reinforcing that part of the border."

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