MINSK. July 6 (Interfax) - The Belarusian Armed Forces have a specific mission of protecting the western flank, deputy head of the Belarusian Armed Forces General Staff Department at the Belarusian Military Academy Andrei Bogodel said in an interview with the Belarusian state-run news agency BelTA.
"The Belarusian Armed Forces have a specific task of protecting the western flank. [...] Our task is to prevent our Russian comrades from being stabbed in the back, I believe we are up to this task," Bogodel said.
"There is a great number of various military exercises held" near the Belarusian border, he said. "Over a dozen of them are being held in our sector right now. Groups of forces have been deployed and are being constantly enhanced along our border," he said.
"Our main task is not to miss the moment when the risks and challenges develop into threats and we will have to act according to the situation. We have what to respond with," Bogodel said.
"We have a regional group of forces of our own, and that's a factor of no little significance. Everyone must realize that only one person, our commander-in-chief, is in charge of the forces stationed in our territory. There should be no false rumors," he said.
"The group will be put to work if necessary. We are ready to prevent any turn of events," Bogodel said.