The government of Belarus announced today that it is completely closing its border with Ukraine, which for months have been targeting Belarus with accusations of plotting military aggression against it. Ukraine has a population of almost 45 million and a military trained and armed by the U.S. and NATO. Belarus has a population of 9 million and doesn’t belong to a military bloc; NATO is the only one in the world.
President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered the State Border Committee to close the 675-mile border separating the two former Soviet republics with this explanation: “I am astounded by the amount of weapons being smuggled from Ukraine to Belarus. I mentioned it last year. Many didn’t believe me. This is why I’ve instructed the border guard to fully close off the border with Ukraine.”
He also claimed that the government has detected what he said were called self-defense formations (he branded them terrorist cells), saying they are supported by Lithuania, Poland, the U.S., Ukraine and Germany (his order). All but Ukraine are NATO members and Ukraine since last year has been a NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner.
The Belarusian head of state said that a Telegram channel was formed under the name Belarus’ self-defense formations, and has 2,500 subscribers. In Lukashenko’s words: “It was their combat reserve. We know their faces. The chat’s owner is Mr. de Hoffmann, a German citizen, who was previously a citizen of Russia and Ukraine. Mr Dudnikov, a Russian citizen, is the main moderator” of the operation.
He specified that a sabotage group headed by one Ms N. Matveyeva was apprehended attempting to set fire to forestry vehicles and then, in the president’s words: “What did they intend to do? Set a column of vehicles on fire at night, upload it to the Internet and demonstrate: look, we are alive, we are fighting, and we will bring down this regime. She was caught on 8 June. The attempt failed.”
He also claimed that another group of saboteurs attempted to blow up a Russian navy communications facility in the town of Vileika, but the would-be perpetrators were also arrested. Lukashenko said he’s discussed the incident with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Lukashenko also instructed the Foreign Ministry to summon the ambassadors of the NATO nations involved to demand the extradition of suspected saboteurs and insurrectionists. On that subject he said, “All the facts are documented and we will prove their guilt. We don’t even have to prove it: they will talk about it on their own. And you will see their true face: the face of Germans, Americans, Poles, and Lithuanians.”
Extending the accusations higher up the chain of Western political leadership, he added: “Attempts to occupy Belarus in conditions of a modern hybrid war are once again being made. We hear about ‘the new order’ from the same bearers of ‘European values’ just like we did 80 years ago. The same Western elites are in the lead.”
Even allowing for exaggeration, for fabrication by the Belarus government, today’s events signal a dramatic heightening of tensions in northeastern Europe; where NATO’s self-proclaimed Eastern Flank confronts Belarus’ and Russia’s borders.
Step 1– complete, NATO says, “Lukashenko is a dictator.” Step 2– coming soon, NATO says, “Lukashenko must go.” Step 3– channeling Condoleezza Rice, Belarus will mercilessly suffer the “birth pangs” of a “new Belarus.”
There are a few more left overs in the Biden administration; Nuland, et al
Never underestimate the “cookie monster.” Sorry to whoever called her that label if I infringed on their copyrighted material. Antiwar folks come up with the best labels. Another memorable one is Satanyahu. I wanted to give them credit but couldn’t remember. Whoever it was that came up with the labels, please chime in.
Looks like Nicaraguan Contras, terrorist cells all around pushing inside. The US has done well with a reverse of the VC from Vietnam, as it did in its original Afghan operations and finally settled on for its Syrian aggression.
Of course Ukraine itself was taken over by such units, with a strong Nazi component, similar to the strong al Qaeda component used by the US in Syria. It is completely amoral and shameless, killing anyone, for no clear purpose behind the endless neocon aggressive advances.
I got into a couple of discussions with other antiwar folks about this exact subject. My problem with war is that it’s bad for humans, period. We are all sons and daughters, children and elderly. We all have mothers who would morn us if we die in war. This is exactly why I am antiwar. I welcome any antiwar views. Others maybe against it on technicalities or in certain situations, like it’s shades of grey– more clinical than emotional. I envy them a little, but they could not change my feelings. War is bad and the first casualty of war is the truth.
The US agenda is to bring much suffering to the people of Belarus to collapse the government.
This is war on Russia and it knows it and will not allow it.
I just do not see how war in Europe can be avoided unless the US is neutralized.
Lukashenko needs exaggerate nothing. Everyone can see what is going on around Belorussia and Russia.
Byelorussia is a member of the CSTO military bloc.