Ukraine estimates the number of mercenaries from the Wagner Group deployed in Belarus at around 5,000

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine estimated this Saturday at about 5,000 mercenaries from the Russian paramilitary company Wagner deployed in Belarus. “At first, when the mercenary groups began to enter Belarus, their number was estimated at hundreds.. But now, given the available information about representatives of private military companies, their number is, of course, different and may be as high as 5,000,” Ukrainian border guard spokesman Andri Demchenko said.

Speaking to the Ukrinform agency, he added that this figure does not represent an immediate threat to Ukraine, although the agents stop any scenario and the situation on the border is fully controlled. In addition, he stressed that the State Border Guard Service continues to monitor the situation regarding the arrival of Russian mercenaries in Belarus.

“Ukraine is doing everything necessary to understand the real risk and ensure reliable security due to the presence of mercenaries in a neighboring country.. We react accordingly,” the spokesman said.. At the same time, he emphasized that the Ukrainian border is being strengthened along its entire length and reinforced by all necessary means.

Its objective is to “exert psychological pressure”

The commander of the Joint Forces, Lieutenant General Serki Nayev, previously stated that the actions of the Wagner Group in Belarus are aimed at “exerting psychological pressure” and intimidating the Ukrainian population.

“We must not be intimidated because we know what we have to do and we are doing everything possible to ensure that the enemy's reconnaissance and sabotage forces cannot successfully operate on the territory of Ukraine, in particular in the direction of Kiev in the Chernobyl zone,” he said, according to a statement from the Joint Forces.

The commander, who made the remarks while attending military training at a critical infrastructure facility in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, specified that “to prevent enemy actions,” five sections of highway leading to the state border with Belarus were destroyed last week. In addition, more than sixty obstacles were created with forest debris and more than 2,500 anti-tank mines were placed, in addition to weekly military exercises.