Ukraine, Poland discuss Wagner 'threats' amid Belarus presence
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Ukraine and Poland hold meetings to discuss their growing concern over the presence of Wagner forces in Belarus.
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In this grab taken from a video released by Belarus' Defense Ministry on Thursday, July 20, 2023, Belarusian soldiers of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) and mercenary fighters from Wagner private military company attend the weeklong maneuvers conducted at a firing range near the border city of Brest, Belarus (Belarus' Defense Ministry via AP, File)
In response to the presence of the Wagner Group private military company in Belarus, Major General Serhiy Nayev, the commander of the Ukrainian joint forces, held a meeting with Major General Tomasz Piotrowski, the operation commander of the Polish armed forces, the commander of the Ukrainian joint forces said Monday.
The meeting was aimed at discussing potential threats posed by the Wagner Group's activities after it moved to Belarus.
Kiev and Warsaw engaged in discussions regarding various issues related to the potential challenges and threats arising from the deployment of the Wagner Group in Belarus, as reported by Ukraine.
Major General Sergey Nayev emphasized the significance of ongoing information and experience exchange between their respective forces to effectively coordinate and organize combat operations at control points.
During the meeting, Major General Nayev also underscored the necessity of additional training for personnel in operating and maintaining Polish-made military equipment, a crucial aspect in enhancing the capabilities of the armed forces.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki revealed in July that over 100 Wagner fighters had been stationed near the Suwalki Gap, a narrow stretch of territory that separates Belarus from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Prime Minister Morawiecki viewed this deployment as an attempt to aid illegal immigration into Polish territory.
Wagner relocated to Belarus following a failed coup attempt in Russia in June. While Belarusian authorities announced that the group would assist in training their armed forces, they have denied any intentions of the Wagner fighters planning an incursion into Poland.
On June 24, PMC Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin announced on his Telegram channel storming the Rostov-on-Don region and taking over the military headquarters in response to what he claims was a Russian attack on his troops earlier under the orders of the Defense Ministry, while the Ministry rejected his accusations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed in a speech following the armed mutiny that those responsible "will suffer inevitable punishment" and described Prigozhin's action as "treason" that was driven by "personal interests and excessive ambition."
After talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who was acting at the behest of Putin, Prigozhin decided to put an end to the attempted armed mutiny.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to Lukashenko's offer since he had known Prigozhin personally for around 20 years and that Putin's word can be considered a guarantee for allowing Prigozhin to depart to Belarus.
Wagner's chief then was transported to Belarus along with some of his forces that agreed to remain under his command, while others either ended their service and retired or signed contracts with Russia's Defense Ministry.
