Russia begins joint military drills with Belarus

Russia's defence ministry said the exercises scheduled to continue until February 20 in Belarus had begun

This handout video grab released by the Russian Defence Ministry on February 4, 2022 shows tanks on a snow-covered field during joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus as part of an inspection of the Union State's Response Force, at a firing range in Belarus. Credit: AFP Photo

Russia and Belarus launched joint military drills Thursday that had raised concerns in Western countries with fears that Moscow is plotting a major escalation in the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia's defence ministry said in a statement that the exercises scheduled to continue until February 20 in Belarus had begun and would centre around "suppressing and repelling external aggression".

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