Wagner forces train Belarusian army
New satellite images show military vehicles belonging to the Wagner group parked at their main base in Belarus.
Thousands of the Russian mercenaries have arrived in the country since the end of Prigozhin’s mutiny in June.
Between 3,450 and 3,650 soldiers have travelled to a camp close to Asipovichy – a town 140 miles north of the Ukrainian border, according to Belaruski Hajun.
The activist group also claimed that around 700 military vehicles along with construction equipment had also been transferred to Belarus.
The presence of Wagner troops in Belarus has rattled some NATO members, who fear Moscow may use the mercenaries to destabilise their countries.
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These fears escalated after a prominent Russian politician suggested in July that Wagner forces could be used to seize the Suwałki Corridor – a strategic strip of land between Poland and Lithuania.
However, the latest set of satellite images published by Maxar Technologies appear to show that Wagner does not currently have the military hardware to conduct a major offensive against NATO member countries.
According to analysis by the the Institute for the Study of War, the images show just cars, trucks, semi-trucks, buses and a limited number of mine-resistant armoured personnel carriers stationed at Wagner’s main base in Tsel.
ISW’s George Barros said: “There is no indication that the Wagner group in Belarus actually has the material necessary to be able to mount a serious attack.”
Mr Barros also added that available satellite imagery suggests Wagner has indeed surrendered its heavy equipment to the Russian defence ministry, as it promised when calling off June’s short-lived rebellion.
Wagner instructors are believed to be training Belarusian military units in several locations close to the borders with Nato countries.
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There are reports that Wagner military personnel have been spotted at the Gozhsky army training ground, which is close to Lithuania.
At the same time western intelligence sources say Wagner fighters are training units of the Belarusian 38th Air Assault Brigade in Brest, which is three miles from Poland’s eastern border.
The Belarusian Defence Ministry confirmed the close cooperation between the Russian militia and Minsk’s armed forces.
They said: “Wagner fighters who have really been in the heat of combat are passing on valuable information and experience to our servicemen.”
Tensions between Poland and Belarus escalated on Tuesday (August 1), after Warsaw said two Belarusian helicopters entered the country’s airspace.
Poland defence ministry said: “There was a violation of Polish airspace by two Belarusian helicopters that were carrying out training near the border.”
It added that Belarus had earlier informed Poland of plans to carry out training exercises in the area.
The helicopters were flying at a low altitude and were not picked up by radar, Polish authorities said. However, it was revealed yesterday that the two helicopters had been escorting Lukashenko when they crossed into Poland.
Warsaw has rushed more troops to the border and has informed Nato of the border violation.
Poland shares a 250-mile eastern border with Belarus and prior to Tuesday’s incident had sent over 1,000 soldiers to beef up security there.
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