Russia-led alliance holds military drills in Belarus

TALLINN, Estonia — More than 2,000 troops from a Russia-led security alliance opened military exercises Friday in parts of Belarus near the borders of NATO countries.

The exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization include troops from Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. Armenia is also a member of the CSTO but did not send any of its forces; in January, Armenia said it would not host CSTO drills this year amid tense relations with Russia.

Belarus’ defense ministry said the exercises, which are to last through Wednesday, are to prepare for joint operations, including responses to a nuclear accident.

The exercises are taking place in three western Belarus regions that border NATO members Poland and Lithuania. Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said the purpose of the military exercises was to destabilize the region.

Belarus late Friday claimed that a Polish military helicopter flew at low altitude about 1200 meters (0.75 miles) into Belarusian airspace in the Grodno region, one of the areas where the exercises are taking place. Polish charge d’affaires Wojciech Filimonowicz was summoned for a complaint, Belarus said.

Belarus hosts Russian forces and equipment that have been used in the war in Ukraine, although Belarusian forces have not taken part. Russia also says it has deployed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Ukraine’s Joint Forces commander Gen. Serhii Naiev said Ukraine has strengthened its border with Belarus for the exercises.

爱沙尼亚塔林——周五，由俄罗斯领导的安全联盟的2000多名士兵在白俄罗斯靠近北约国家边境的地区展开了军事演习。

集体安全条约组织的演习包括来自俄罗斯、白俄罗斯、吉尔吉斯斯坦、哈萨克斯坦和塔吉克斯坦的部队。亚美尼亚也是集体安全条约组织的成员国，但没有派出任何部队；今年1月，亚美尼亚表示，鉴于与俄罗斯关系紧张，今年不会主办集体安全条约组织的演习。

白俄罗斯国防部表示，此次演习将持续到周三，旨在为联合行动做准备，包括应对核事故。

此次演习在白俄罗斯西部与北约成员国波兰和立陶宛接壤的三个地区举行。波兰外交部长兹比格涅夫·劳表示，此次军事演习的目的是破坏该地区的稳定。

白俄罗斯周五晚间声称，一架波兰军用直升机低空飞行约1200米（0.75英里），侵入白俄罗斯领空，飞越格罗德诺州领空。格罗德诺州是此次联合军演的举行区域之一。白俄罗斯方面表示，已传唤波兰驻白俄罗斯临时代办沃伊切赫·菲利莫诺维奇就此事提出抗议。

白俄罗斯境内驻扎着俄罗斯军队和装备，这些装备曾用于乌克兰战争，尽管白俄罗斯军队并未参战。俄罗斯还声称已在白俄罗斯部署了战术核武器。

乌克兰联合部队司令谢尔盖·纳耶夫将军表示，乌克兰已加强与白俄罗斯的边境安全，以配合此次演习。