Ukraine's border guard service has verified that Wagner mercenaries, originating from Russia, have now entered Belarus, which shares a border with both countries, BBC reports.
The exact number of these "militants," their specific location, and their objectives are currently being assessed by the DPSU. Unconfirmed reports suggest that a convoy of approximately 60 Wagner vehicles crossed the Belarusian border on Saturday. In June, Wagner's mutiny posed a challenge to President Vladimir Putin's authority.
The rebellion, lasting 24 hours, concluded with a deal that allowed Wagner fighters to join the regular Russian army or relocate to Belarus, a close ally of Russia. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner, was also offered the opportunity to move to Belarus, but his current whereabouts remain unknown.
Wagner is a Russian private military company composed of mercenary fighters, many of whom were recruited from Russian prisons. These fighters have been involved in some of the most intense battles since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of the previous year. DPSU spokesman Andriy Demchenko confirmed the presence of Wagner in Belarus, providing a brief statement on Saturday. Ukrainian border guards continue to monitor the situation along the northern border, but no further details were provided.
Earlier in the day, a Telegram channel associated with a prominent Belarusian opposition blogger reported the entry of a large Wagner convoy into Belarus from Russia. The vehicles, including pickups, lorries, and buses, were reportedly accompanied by Belarusian traffic police as they headed towards the town of Osipovichi, located approximately 85km (53 miles) southeast of the capital, Minsk. The Belarusian authorities, who consider the Telegram channel extremist, have not commented on the matter.
Belarus' defense ministry announced on Friday that Wagner troops were now serving as military instructors for the country's territorial defense forces. These fighters were reported to be conducting training activities in various military disciplines near Osipovichy. President Putin disclosed earlier this week that Prigozhin had declined an offer for his fighters to join the Russian army as a regular unit. Putin mentioned that many group commanders supported the plan, to be led by a senior Wagner figure, during talks in Moscow on June 29. However, Prigozhin's response was that "the guys [Wagner troops] do not agree with this decision."
President Biden of the United States advised Prigozhin to be cautious of poisoning following the mutiny that occurred on June 23.
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