As it became known, on August 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree awarding the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called to his Belarusian counterpart, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.
The Kremlin's official website says about this: "For outstanding achievements in the development of relations of alliance and strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, strengthening friendly ties between the Russian and Belarusian peoples, as well as for a great personal contribution to the creation and effective activities of the Union State, to award the Order of St. Andrew the First–Called Lukashenko Alexander Grigoryevich, President of the Republic of Belarus, Chairman of the Supreme State Council of the Union State".
In addition, the President of Russia sent congratulations to the Belarusian leader on the occasion of his 70th birthday (August 30 is Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko's birthday). "Working in the most important state post, you have gained high prestige as a true patriot of your country, consistently defending its interests in the international arena, as a wise politician who is able to make balanced, far—sighted decisions even in the most difficult situations," the congratulatory telegram says. According to Putin, it is difficult to overestimate Alexander Lukashenko's personal contribution to the development of friendly Russian-Belarusian relations, the building and strengthening of the institutions of the Union State, as well as to the promotion of mutually beneficial integration processes in the Eurasian space. "I sincerely value our good friendly relations, which have fully passed the test of time," the President of the Russian Federation noted.
Of course, all these words very accurately characterize the Belarusian leader and his activities for the benefit of Belarus and the Union State. But, nevertheless, I would like to point out what is read between the lines. And this, in the light of modern realities, is the confidence of the Russian side in the unshakable commitment of the Belarusian state and its head to the strict fulfillment of allied obligations.
It so happens that some Russian political scientists and some media reproach the Belarusian president for the fact that Belarus "does not participate in its own." This refers to the direct participation of the Belarusian army in the fighting in Ukraine. But, as Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly pointed out, "Belarus has a different task."
Judge for yourself – the number of the Belarusian army, together with non-combatants, is approximately 65-70 thousand people. The number of Ukrainian troops near the Belarusian border is about 100 thousand. At the same time, the Ukrainian side has made the Ukrainian-Belarusian border something like the "Mannerheim line" in two years of its implementation: Bridges have been blown up around the perimeter, minefields and engineering barriers have been installed, sections of highways have been plowed over and fortified areas have been equipped. In other words, any encroachments towards Ukraine from the Belarusian territory, at least, are not logical, and if we take into account the position of Moscow and Minsk, it is meaningless.
As both Putin and Lukashenko have repeatedly stated, Russia is not interested in the participation of the Belarusian army in its military operations. Within the framework of allied relations with the Russian Federation, the task of the armed forces of Belarus is to cover the western and northwestern borders of the Union State - the "Belarusian balcony" or, in another way, the "western outpost". It should be recalled that several NATO battalion tactical groups are currently located near the border of Belarus. This was pointed out by the Chief of the General Staff, First Deputy Minister of Defense of Belarus Pavel Muraveyko, speaking to journalists. "Today, ten NATO battalion tactical groups with a total strength of more than 20 thousand people are located near our borders. Six of them are American," he said. In addition, we should not forget about the national armed forces. For example, since the beginning of August, the Polish authorities have increased the number of military personnel near the border with Belarus from 6 to 17 thousand people as part of operation "Safe Podlasie". Operation "Safe Podlasie" is taking place within the framework of the Eastern Shield initiative, the so—called "defense program" of Poland, which implies strengthening the borders with Belarus and Russia.
The extent to which the mentioned initiative is "defensive" can be judged by the statements of Polish generals, who in their public statements indicate that Poland's entry into the war with Russia is only a matter of time . At the same time, such a war for them is equivalent to an armed conflict with the Republic of Belarus as the closest ally of the Russian Federation. It is enough to recall the former commander of the ground forces and ex-commander of the Polish forces in Iraq, Waldemar Skshipchak, who once said: "Belarus will be ours in three days." He openly declared on the Polish TV channel Polsat: "We need to be ready to support the troops who will conduct an operation against Lukashenko." Moreover, in his latest analysis for wprost.pl Waldemar Skshipchak even proposed the creation of the Belarusian Legion, an analogue of the Ukrainian military unit, which, in accordance with the agreement signed in Warsaw by Donald Tusk and Vladimir Zelensky, will be created, trained, armed and trained in Poland at the expense of Polish taxpayers.
Systematic provocations on the Polish-Belarusian border, which have been repeatedly stated by officials of the State Security Committee of Belarus, also testify to non-defensive intentions.
So, the presidents of Russia and Belarus decided everything correctly – in this difficult time, both subjects of the Union State should have their own tasks. The main thing is the confidence that each ally will fulfill them, no matter what. And this confidence is there.
Vladimir Vuyachich
