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Belarus said Monday that joint air force drills with Russia began on its territory, amid concerns Minsk was being dragged into the Ukraine conflict to fight alongside Moscow.<\/p>\n
Minsk\u2019s defence ministry said \u201cjoint tactical flight drills of aviation units\u201d from Belarus and Russia had started.<\/p>\n
The drills will last until February 1, the ministry said earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main goal of the exercise is to increase operational compatibility in the joint performance of combat training missions,\u201d the ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n
All military airfields in Belarus will be involved in the drills, Minsk has said.<\/p>\n
The ministry added that the exercises will involve training in aerial reconnaissance, joint patrolling of the state border, tactical air assault landing, the delivery of goods and evacuation of wounded.<\/p>\n
Officials have described the drills as defensive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe exercise is purely defensive in nature,\u201d Pavel Muraveyko, first deputy state secretary of Belarus\u2019s Security Council, said in remarks carried Sunday by the defence ministry\u2019s Telegram channel.<\/p>\n
He added that the situation on Belarus\u2019s border with Ukraine was \u201cnot very calm\u201d but Minsk is ready for \u201cany provocative actions\u201d from Kyiv.<\/p>\n
President Alexander Lukashenko has insisted that he will not send Belarusian troops into Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Belarus allowed Russia \u2014 its main political ally and chief creditor \u2014 to use Belarusian territory as a launching pad for its Ukraine offensive.<\/p>\n
In October, Minsk said it was establishing a joint regional force with Moscow with several thousand Russian servicemen arriving to the country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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