Wagner Mercenaries Conduct Training Drills in Belarus, Near Polish Border

Belarus has conducted publicly known training drills with Russia's Wagner mercenaries, with video footage showing Belarusian Special Operations Forces and masked men in military fatigues with Wagner patches. The exercises are taking place near Belarus' western border with Poland, causing concern for Poland's Defense Ministry, which has deployed over 1,000 soldiers to its eastern border. The Kremlin expressed concern about Poland's "hostile" reinforcements. Belarus' Defense Ministry stated that the drills aim to enhance the country's military security in the current geopolitical situation. Belarus served as a staging ground for Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and President Lukashenko considers Wagner's combat experience in Ukraine as "invaluable."