On EU, Ukraine borders, Belarus special forces are 'ready'

In reclusive Belarus, just a few kilometres from the EU frontier, special forces in the army of Kremlin ally Alexander Lukashenko are simulating forest combat while paratroopers nearby practise jumping from aircraft. The strongman has ruled his ex-Soviet country with an iron fist for nearly three decades and for years flirted with the West before backing Russia's intervention in Ukraine last year. 'We are ready to fulfil any tasks, including the most difficult ones if we have to,' Vadim Lukashevich, deputy commander of the Special Operations Forces of Belarus, told AFP. And their training ground lay just four kilometres (two miles) from EU and NATO member Poland and 50 kilometres from Ukraine. 'There is no more important task today than to defend our achievements, our people and our land,' was the strongman's quote printed next to his image. 'WE WILL DEFEND OUR BELARUS' In Brest, Belarusian military officials toed a careful line, unwilling to comment on the Ukraine conflict. 'But we are getting ready because we have to be ready to fulfil our tasks in any sharply changing conditions.' During the carefully choreographed tour, AFP was shown the barracks where the soldiers live. Between a room of rows of metal beds was a classroom that officials said was used for various activities, including 'ideological lessons'. On the would-be battlefield, soldiers practised landing on knee-bent legs from a parachute. They also took part in simulated fighting in a forested environment. They stressed that Minsk is 'peace-loving' and were keen to emphasise the 'stability' that they said authorities ensure. 'We will not give up our Beloved,' he added, using a phrase appropriated by the government after the protests.

On EU, Ukraine borders, Belarus special forces are 'ready'

The troops outside the city of Brest were running the drills as part of a tightly controlled press tour of the 38th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. And their training ground lay just four kilometres (two miles) from EU and NATO member Poland and 50 kilometres from Ukraine.