Minsk warns of risk of local conflict on Belarusian-Ukrainian border

MINSK. Dec 8 (Interfax) – State Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council Alexander Volfovich has warned about a risk of local conflict on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border, given the deployment of Ukrainian troops in the border area.

He made this statement after a Ukrainian Mil Mi-8 helicopter violated Belarusian airspace in the Novaya Rudnya area on December 4, 2021.

As a rule, exercises are held at training ranges, the Belarusian state-run news agency BelTA quoted Volfovich as saying. "For some reason, the Ukrainian administration decided to hold the exercise in the close vicinity of the border under the guise of measures against illegal immigration. A group of forces, heavy weapons, helicopters, and warplanes were deployed," he said.

"This could lead to a local conflict. I very much don’t want that to happen. The recent case of border violation by a military helicopter of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is an example," Volfovich said.

"We would like to avoid such incidents," Volfovich said. "The Belarusian side isn’t giving any reason for this. We aren’t deploying groups of forces on the border, either in the west or in the south. We aren’t holding unscheduled exercises, either. Perhaps we should follow the example of our Ukrainian colleagues and hold an exercise near the border, as well. What can they accuse us of – would that be a mirrored response? Indeed, we wouldn’t want such things to happen," he said.

On December 5, the Belarusian Defense Ministry presented a note of protest to the Ukrainian military attache in connection with a violation of Belarusian airspace.

Kyiv has denied that a Ukrainian helicopter violated the airspace of Belarus.