Ukraine’s armed forces have warned of increased military activity and troops from Belarus, near the border with Ukraine.

“The Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus have intensified reconnaissance operations, deploying additional units in the border areas in the Homel region,” the Ukrainian General Staff said on May 23.

“The risk of rocket attacks and airstrikes from Belarusian territory still remains,” the statement said.

Following this statement from Ukraine, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense said it had launched what it called a “new phase of control” of military equipment to oversee the mobility and capacity of the army.

Belarus has not formally participated in the war launched by Moscow against Ukraine on February 24, but has allowed its territory to be used by Russian forces as territory to launch attacks on Ukrainian territory.

But as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin face international isolation, the two leaders met on May 23 for the third time in a month.

The meeting in the Black Sea city of Sochi focused on the war in Ukraine, with Lukashenko thanking the West for “boosting our development”.