Sending Special Forces To Ukrainian Borders, Belarusian President: We Can't Defeat NATO, But Can Cause Damage

JAKARTA - Belarus will deploy special operations forces in three areas near its southern border with Ukraine, the armed forces said on Tuesday as President Alexander Lukashenko spoke about the role of Russian-made missiles in boosting the country's defenses.

Russia's close ally Belarus said in March its armed forces were not taking part in what Moscow called "special operations" in Ukraine.

However, they served as a launching pad for Russia to send thousands of troops across the border on February 24, in what Russian President Vladimir Putin called a 'special military operation'.

Minsk has complained for months about North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries gathering troops near their borders, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia all members of the alliance, to then increase the number and intensity of its own military exercises in reaction.

"The United States and its allies are continuing to establish their military presence on the borders of the state of the Republic of Belarus," said Belarusian Chief of General Staff Viktor Gulevich.

"The established grouping has more than doubled in the last six months in both quantity and quality."

Belarus is also deploying air, artillery and missile defense units for exercises in the west, Gulevich added.

Meanwhile, President Lukashenko said Moscow had agreed to help Minsk produce missiles similar to the Iskander, which Russia has used in Ukraine. He also wants Belarus to continue using the Russian-made S-400 and S-300 surface-to-air missile systems.

"We are realistic, we understand that we will not be able to defeat NATO. But we can cause damage, especially in the areas we will attack," he said.