Ukraine moves soldiers north to protect its border from a possible invasion by Wagner troops

Ukraine is moving troops to protect its northern border from a possible invasion by Wagner troops.

Volodymyr Zelensky has been forced to respond to the Kremlin’s plan to relocate thousands of the mercenaries in Belarus.

While satellite images have confirmed military bases are being built for the private military company.

A vacant site near Asipovichi, 64 miles from the capital city Minsk, has been selected. Satellite images have confirmed preparations, including 300 tent-like structures built in the last fortnight.

Ukraine’s move follows a meeting of its top military commanders yesterday. Afterwards, President Zelensky said on social media: ‘The decision is for Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhnyi and Northern commander Serhiy Naev to implement a set of measures to strengthen this direction.’

Wagner’s commander Yevgeny Prigozhin has been exiled in Belarus since last weekend’s rebellion by the paramilitary group.

Volodymyr Zelensky has been forced to respond to the Kremlin’s plan to relocate thousands of the mercenaries in Belarus

Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin (pictured June 24, 2023) boasted he could capture Ukraine ‘in a day’ and the border separating the countries in only 125 miles from Kyiv

He has boasted he could capture Ukraine ‘in a day’ and the border separating the countries in only 125 miles from Kyiv.

In the aftermath of last Saturday’s mutiny by Wagner, which saw thousands of heavily armed troops seize the city of Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, it appeared the group and its charismatic leader had been marginalised by the Kremlin.

However, it appears there could be more to their relocation to Belarus than moving them out of harm’s way – hence Ukraine’s decision to counter the move.

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Wagner is also continuing to recruit soldiers from cities across Russia for future operations.

So it would seem it is ‘business is usual’ for the group despite the apparent feud between Prigozhin and Vladimir Putin – and threats by the Kremlin to disband Wagner.

The attempted coup instigated by Prigozhin represented the biggest threat to Vladimir Putin’s authority since he took office more than 20 years ago. It also led Putin to raise fears of a civil war in Russia.

With Russian troops being forced into a gradual retreat in eastern Ukraine, the opening of a second flank in Belarus makes sense militarily.

Belarussian president Alexander Lukashenko has appeared eager to host Wagner. Its troops could also be used to prop up the dictator who is facing mass protests against authoritarian rule.

On Saturday, the deadline set by the Kremlin for Wagner troops to sign Russian defence ministry contracts is due to expire.

Previously, President Putin has insisted the soldiers, many of whom were released from prison to join Wagner, must swear allegiance to the Russian state.

President Putin has insisted the soldiers, many of whom were released from prison to join Wagner, must swear allegiance to the Russian state 

Prigozhin has insisted his troops will not sign the paperwork and will remain employees of the renegade private military company.

Yesterday, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov insisted Russia would emerge stronger following the aborted mutiny.

Speaking in Moscow he said: ‘If anyone in the West has any doubts, that’s their problem. Thank you for your concerns about our national interests but there is no need.’

Lavrov also called for reform of the United Nations Security Council to increase its representation of countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is seeking the same reforms at the UN.