MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Russian and Belarusian armies are set to hold joint strategic exercises in Belarus from September 12-16, the Belarusian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.

The aim of the drills is to test the capabilities of Russia and Belarus and “ensure the military security of the Union State and their readiness to repel possible aggression,” the ministry cited Major General Valery Revenko as saying.

The Union State is a borderless union and alliance between the two former Soviet republics and neighbours.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned earlier this year, without giving details or citing evidence, that Russia was “preparing something” in Belarus this summer under the guise of routine military exercises.

In an interview with Time Magazine last week, Belarusian Pres

See Full Page