In Kolpin-Ogrodniki, Poland, residents near the Belarus border reported hearing gunfire and helicopters following the arrival of Russia’s Wagner Group. Fears mount that the Ukraine conflict will spill over into their region.
Agata Moroz, the 56-year-old mayor of Kolpin-Ogrodniki, expressed concern for her family, particularly her son in the army, her grandchildren, and her disabled husband.
Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin addressed his fighters in a video, stating they would not be involved in the Ukraine war at present but should prepare for African operations. Meanwhile, the Belarusian military received training from masked Wagner instructors, accompanied by armored vehicles and possible drone equipment.
It remains unclear how many Russian mercenaries are currently training with the Belarusian brigade at the Brest base. Local farmer Adam Ligor reported hearing helicopters and gunshots from his farm located just 500 meters from the border.
Poland, a NATO member, recently deployed over 1,000 troops to its eastern border in response to fears of increased tension due to Wagner’s presence in Belarus.
The Polish defense ministry stated it is closely monitoring the situation and prepared for various scenarios. Anton Motolko of opposition group Belarusian Hajun estimated the number of Wagner fighters to be a few dozen, potentially brought in via helicopter.
Last year, Russia and Belarus legalized the permanent presence of Russian military on Belarusian soil. This week, President Alexander Lukashenko established joint combat training centers with Russia.
Wagner’s relocation to Belarus followed their failed mutiny in June, when they seized a Russian military headquarters and threatened civil war in Moscow, according to President Vladimir Putin.
(Reporting by Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska, Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
