Lukashenko announces closure of Belarusian borders with Lithuania and Poland

Belarus is closing its borders with Lithuania and Poland, and “strengthening the border” with Ukraine, announced President Alexander Lukashenko, as quoted by RIA Novosti. 

Update: The border service at the Belarusian-Lithuanian border hasn’t received any information about the border closure, reports Onliner. “There’s no official information about closing the border with Poland,” the Grodno border service told the publication.

According to RFE/RL’s Belarusian service, Radio Svaboda, what this means in practice remains unclear.

“We don’t know what they will throw [at us] next. We understand that there are a few tricks left in their arsenal before the release of a hot war. In recent days, I have been forced, together with Russia’s president and defense minister, to build up the general defense of the Union State,” Lukashenko said.

The Belarusian state news agency BelTA hasn’t provided any further information. The Belarusian president’s website wasn’t available at the time of the news release.

Correction: An earlier version of the news brief said that Belarus was also going to close its border with Ukraine. It was later clarified that Lukashenko spoke of “strengthening” and not closing the borders with Ukraine.