Belarus says the joint air force drills it will begin with Russia on Monday are defensive in nature, but the exercises are taking place as concerns grow that Moscow is pushing Minsk to join the war in Ukraine.
Pavel Muraveyko, first deputy state secretary of the Belarusian Security Council, says the exercise is purely defensive in nature
Muraveyko added that the exercises, which will continue until February 1, will involve training for aerial reconnaissance, deflecting air strikes, and air cover of important objects and communications.