Joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus have been made public to international media including NHK.

The drills began on February 10 and are due to end on Sunday.

Members of the media were invited to a drill ground in southwestern Belarus on Saturday.

Officials emphasized that the purpose of the exercises is for defense.

Air raids with bombers and shelling from tanks were carried out under a scenario that they are responding to enemy attacks.

Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council Alexander Volfovich, who is a close aide to President Alexander Lukashenko, toured the site.

He told reporters that his country is not cooperating with Russia in an alleged attempt to occupy Ukraine, stressing that what is taking place is a genuine exercise.

He added that Russia does not need to invade Ukraine.

When asked if the Russian units would withdraw immediately after the exercises, he said it is up to President Lukashenko.

Ukraine is just south of Belarus. Its capital, Kyiv, is only 90 kilometers from the border.

The United States and other countries say that Russia could invade Ukraine using the troops in Belarus under the pretense of an exercise.
They are watching for whether Russia withdraws its troops when the drills end on Sunday.