According to the US Institute for War Studies (ISW) in Belarus, Russia continues to create the conditions for a possible attack on northern Ukraine. The Ukrainian army also announced on Saturday that Russia had moved battalions there. The ISW experts said such an attack is still unlikely. But he is possible. And the danger must be taken seriously. The establishment of a field hospital was seen as an indication that Russia could attack from there.
“Field hospitals are not necessary for exercises and can be an indication of preparation for combat operations,” the ISW said. At the beginning of this year, the establishment of these military hospitals in Belarus was also an indication of this – just before the start of the major Russian invasion. In Belarus, the ruler Alexander Lukashenko (68), who is politically and financially dependent on Moscow, made his military bases available for attacks on Ukraine. Ukraine sees Belarus as a war party.
On the other hand, Lukashenko, who arrived in Moscow on Saturday for another visit, insists that he is not taking part in the war. Lukashenko and Putin will meet for another informal Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit on December 26-27. The union of states of the former Soviet republics emerged more than 30 years ago from the collapse of the USSR. The end of the month also marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Soviet Union.
Is activity in Belarus cheating?
The American institute considers it possible that the deployment of Russian troops in Belarus is a diversionary tactic. A sabotage attack is also possible to distract the Ukrainian forces from the defenses in Donbass. Russia could then use the possibly diminished attention of Ukrainian troops for an offensive in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine or elsewhere, it was said.
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, 36, also said on Friday that Russia’s activities in Belarus may be part of the disinformation campaign. Ukraine is able to protect its northern border. Even in the currently most heavily contested city of Bakhmut in the Donbass, Ukrainian forces have the capacity to hold back a much larger number of Russian attackers, it said. (SDA/chs)