The threat of the resumption of the Russian Armed Forces offensive against Ukraine on the northern front is growing, said the Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Brigadier General Oleksiy Gromov.
"The threat of the restoration of the Russian Armed Forces on the northern front is increasing. This time, the direction of the offensive may be changed to the west of the Belarusian-Ukrainian border to cut the main logistical arteries of the supply of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine from partner countries," Gromov said at a briefing at the Military Media Center on Thursday.
He noted that the aggressive rhetoric of the military-political leadership of Russia and Belarus is intensifying, which is accompanied by the deployment of the regional grouping of troops of the so-called "allied state".
"On the territory of Belarus, measures are being taken to deploy aviation units, units of other branches of the military, forces of the Russian Armed Forces at relevant airfields and military infrastructure facilities, including those transferred under the full control of the Russian Armed Forces," Gromov said.
According to him, within the framework of the above, preparations for covert mobilization are being carried out on the territory of Belarus.
"At the same time, the Republic of Belarus continues to provide its territory for launching ballistic missiles and drones. It has deployed MiG-31 aircraft at its airfields, which can be armed with Kalibr cruise missiles. We are also responding to this," said the representative of the General Staff.
Gromov assured that the General Staff of the Armed Forces constantly monitors the situation.
"Currently, the defense forces are taking measures to ensure reliable coverage of the state border of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv from the north. In the event that the enemy makes a corresponding decision to open a so-called second front, namely to conduct offensive actions from the Republic of Belarus, we will be ready for an adequate response," he emphasized.