The joint Russian-Belarusian air defense forces have been reinforced with new missile units that have been placed in positions, the Ministry of Defense in Minsk announced, quoted by Reuters, Agerpres reports.

„Units of anti-aircraft missiles were installed in the designated areas and were placed in a state of combat”, the ministry indicates in a short statement.

Belarus is a close ally of Russia and allowed Russian President Vladimir Putin to use its territory as a launching pad for his February 24 invasion of Ukraine. The two countries plan to hold joint air exercises in the second half of January, starting next Monday.

Ukraine has repeatedly warned that Putin could try to use Belarus to launch a new offensive against Ukraine from the north, a step that would open a new major front in this war waged by Russia on Ukrainian territory, Reuters comments.

Agerpres