Why the Belarusian dictator is escalating the situation on the border with Ukraine – expert

"Everything Mr. Lukashenko is doing has a double aim," Popovych said.

"All these military drills, closing the airspace, arming hunters and the statements that 'we will liberate western Ukraine' are, on the one hand, the preparations to which we must respond,” Popovych told NV.

“But on the other hand, it's a delay to show (Russian dictator Vladimir) Putin that 'we are preparing and will prepare,' but also an attempt to delay acting until it becomes unnecessary to take action."

"Lukashenko hopes for the latter," the expert said.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov on June 15 said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had convened a meeting on the possible threat of a new invasion by Belarus, during which it was assessed the situation in Belarus, the current state of the Belarusian army, the number of Russian troops and their plans.

Earlier Lukashenko suggested that Belarusian troops might have to fight for Western Ukraine so that it would not be "annexed by the West."

The country has also hosted regular military drills. At the same time, experts claim that the Wagner private military company mercenaries are recruiting Belarus citizens into military service, while Lukashenko is arming hunters.

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