DISINFO: Kyiv preparing to send sabotage groups to Belarus
SUMMARY
The presence of special forces near the border of Ukraine with Belarus may mean that Kyiv is preparing to send sabotage groups into Belarusian territory. There is a high probability of preparation and conduct of armed provocations, as well as high-profile actions, on Belarusian territory. The presence of artillery and armoured vehicles is a possible component of combat support for their actions.
In general, in the context of the build-up of special forces, mercenaries, and other various volunteer formations in the border areas, there remains a high probability of preparing and carrying out armed provocations on Belarusian territory.
RESPONSE
Disinformation narrative accusing Ukraine of aggressive intentions against Belarus. There is no evidence proving that Ukraine intends to prepare any provocation or attack Belarus. The only sources for this are allegations by Moscow and Minsk, and they have not been properly substantiated.
Kyiv has denied any reinforcement of Ukrainian troops on the border, calling it a Belarusian information operation with Russian support to justify Belarus’ own build-up on the border. Ukraine emphasises that the border with Belarus remains a threatening direction, therefore the Ukrainian defence forces “continue to strengthen it both from an engineering point of view and to keep the necessary number of Ukrainian forces and means there to prevent any actions that may come from the territory of Belarus."
Ukraine does not have any territorial claims to Belarus. The main goal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is to de-occupy the Ukrainian territories seized by Russia in the east and south of Ukraine, as well as to strengthen the defence forces in the north of the state. Ukraine just tries to prevent a potential Russian attack from Belarus, especially given that some Russian troops invaded Ukraine from Belarusian territory, as Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko himself admitted in 2023, and allowed Russia to launch missiles against Ukraine from within its borders. Belarus’ increasing involvement in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine led the EU to impose fresh sanctions against this country in late June 2024.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that The West is preparing for a military operation against Belarus, that NATO plans to draw Belarus and Russia into the war through border provocations, that the West is preparing for a military operation against Belarus, that the Belarusian opposition is planning to take over part of Belarus with NATO assistance, or that the West is going to invade Belarus to destroy the country.