Amid rising military tensions between Russia and Ukraine, on the 13th (local time), Russian troops conducted shooting drills in the southern Rostov region adjacent to Ukraine. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Russia is amassing military forces in Belarus, a northern ally of Ukraine.
According to major foreign media on the 18th, the Belarus Ministry of Defense announced that joint military exercises with Russia will be conducted on its territory from the 10th to the 20th of next month (local time).
Earlier, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko revealed through the state news agency on the 17th (local time) that Belarus and Russia would hold joint military exercises next month, but did not specify the exact timing.
Aleksandr Fomin, Russian Deputy Defense Minister, also confirmed the schedule of these joint military exercises during a briefing for military attach?s of foreign embassies on the same day, stating that the focus would be on "neutralizing external threats through border defense operations," according to TASS news agency.
Deputy Minister Fomin added that these exercises are in accordance with the agreement between the two heads of state last month. He particularly emphasized the need to review the situation requiring the full mobilization of available military forces to ensure the security of both countries, suggesting that the exercises could be very large in scale. Meanwhile, foreign media reported that Russian troops and military equipment are steadily entering Belarus ahead of the exercises.
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