Wagner has not yet appeared in Belarus as agreed

An adviser to the Belarusian Defense Minister, Major General Leonid Kasinsky, told the Russian news agency TASS.

The military representative was referring to a camp located near the town of Osipovichi, in the Mogilev region of Belarus, defined as a “summer camp, set up in coordination with the local authorities”.

The Belarusian army explained: “This camp was created to prepare both the army and representatives of the civil administration within the framework of creating a territorial defense system.” According to Kasinski, this camp has the capacity to house about 5,000 soldiers, and its location also allows combat equipment to be placed.

“It all depends on the amount of this equipment. It’s an old military fortress. The infrastructure, including warehouses, has been preserved. Previously there was an artillery brigade here,” he explained.

Despite the failure of the Wagner Group’s rebellion, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko agreed with mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin that the army would move to Belarus. Lukashenko said on Thursday that a final decision had not yet been made and that “it is up to Russia”.

“We don’t build camps,” said the statesman. “We provide many old military camps that were used in wartime.” “But the Wagner Group has a different vision to implement. Naturally, I will not say which one,” he added. Among the Minsk proposals, Lukashenko mentioned the Osipovichi camp.

In any case, he stressed that if the mercenaries are finally transferred to Belarus, the framework in which they will operate in the country will be determined by a law or presidential decree.

The Belarusian president emphasized that the Wagner Group is “the most experienced combat unit” and that it “can serve the defense of Belarus if the country is attacked,” but added that no one from Belarusian territory, including Ukraine, will be attacked.

The Kremlin said Thursday it is not following the movements of the Wagner Group leader, who is said to have gone into exile in Belarus after the failed June 24 riots, and which Minsk claims is currently in Russia.

No, we’re not going through the motions [de Prigozhin]. “We have neither the time nor the desire for that,” said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov at his usual morning press conference.