MINSK. Aug 10 (Interfax) - Belarusian military is studying in detail the experience of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine and is practicing the tactics of modern combat jointly with Wagner Group instructors, but exclusively for defense purposes, Belarusian Security Council State Secretary Alexander Volfovich said.
"We are really studying the experience of conducting the special military operation in Ukraine in detail. We are practicing the tactics of engaging in modern combat jointly with Wagner instructors. We do not conceal this. Everything is being done exclusively for defensive purposes. This also concerns the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus," Volfovich was quoted by the BelTA state-run news agency as saying.
"In this situation, in general, I can confidently say that all our forecasts regarding the activities of the NATO bloc and its individual members have fully proved true. Of course, we are not sitting idle, but taking appropriate response measures," he added.
The policies of Belarus's western neighbors, which were stipulated in the decisions of the July NATO summit that took place in Vilnius, were the reason behind such actions, Volfovich said.
"We again hear statements about imaginary threats from the East. Under such far-fetched pretexts, measures to militarize Poland and the Baltic states are being stepped up. Warsaw has expressed readiness to host American tactical nuclear warheads on its territory. Advanced types of weapons are being purchased," Volfovich said.
The 1st Mechanized Division is being formed in the Polish Armed Forces and will be deployed near the western borders of Belarus, he said. "Unjustifiably speculating on the presence of PMC Wagner in Belarus, Poland has transferred two reinforced mechanized battalions to border areas," Volfovich said.
Lithuania is also expected to increase its military contingent, he went on to say. In particular, Vilnius has recently announced the extension of the presence of U.S. military units in the country until 2025. Over ten exercises involving NATO troops have been held in Lithuania and Latvia in the past two months alone.
"Undoubtedly, all of this is fueling the military and political situation in the region," Volfovich said.