Zelensky Orders Strengthening Ukrainian Forces at Belarus Border

Following the arrival of Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner mercenaries, in Belarus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday instructed senior military commanders to bolster military capabilities in northern Ukraine along the border with Belarus. Prigozhin ended his mercenary rebellion in Russia on Tuesday under an agreement mediated by Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus, and was exiled to Belarus. According to reports, Wagner may establish a new base at an empty military center about 90 kilometers from the Belarusian capital, Minsk. After driving Russian forces out of northern territories last year, Ukraine has taken measures to enhance its defense along the border with Belarus, a close ally of Russia. Hanna Maliar, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense, stated on Friday that Ukrainian forces are advancing on all fronts in a counteroffensive that began this month against Russian forces. Meanwhile, Ukraine's military intelligence agency reported on Friday that Russia is gradually reducing the number of personnel at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine. Kyiv accused Russia this month of planning a 'terrorist' attack on this nuclear facility by releasing radiation, a claim Moscow denied. The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense wrote on Telegram: 'According to the latest data, the occupying forces are gradually leaving the area of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.' The office stated that three employees of the Russian nuclear company 'Rosatom' were the first group to leave the plant. It also mentioned that Ukrainian staff contracted with this company were advised to leave the facility. According to this statement, Russian personnel must leave the plant by July 5, preferably heading towards the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia occupied in 2014. On Thursday, Ukraine conducted rapid response drills near this nuclear plant in the event of a nuclear disaster. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated in an interview with France 24 that his teams have not observed any evidence of Russian military deployment at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, despite Ukrainian officials' claims that Moscow is preparing to attack it. Grossi, who visited the plant on June 15, described the situation there as 'serious' but noted that conditions are stabilizing after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam near the plant, which was used to cool its six reactors. The President of Ukraine stated: 'Peace in Ukraine must be genuine peace and change the current situation on the fronts.'