Ukrainian military says Belarusian troops may join Russian side in war

KYIV

Belarusian troops may join the Russian side in the war against Ukraine, the Ukrainian military said on Saturday.

In a statement, the General Staff said that the Russian troops are focused on taking control of the cities of Mariupol and Severodonetsk.

"Enemy troops have captured the eastern periphery of Mariupol," the statement said.

"There is still the possibility that the Belarusian Armed Forces will directly join the Russian side in the war against Ukraine," it said, claiming that Belarus has taken military measures at its border with Ukraine.

The General Staff claimed that the Russian military has lost more than 12,000 soldiers since the start of the invasion on Feb. 24, as well as 58 aircraft, 362 tanks, 1,205 armored combat vehicles, 83 helicopters, and seven unmanned aerial vehicles.