Ukraine has withdrawn troops from the border with Belarus.

According to RIA Novosti, Belarusian state news agency Belta reported that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced on July 13 the removal of tensions on the border with Ukraine, after Ukraine withdrew its troops.

“After a number of tasks, Ukraine withdrew the Armed Forces and additional troops that they had previously transferred to our border,” the Belarusian leader said.

President Lukashenko also ordered the withdrawal of troops from the southern border, and to their permanent bases.

“The situation has stabilized. And our troops need to withdraw. So that they understand that we will not fight and will not concentrate our Armed Forces on the border with Ukraine, except for the Special Operations Forces,” President Lukashenko explained.

Mr Lukashenko said there were currently no “sudden” developments with Ukraine, and expressed hope that any such situation would not arise.

“No matter how suspiciously they look at us, no matter how they support us, we are not enemies of the Ukrainian people,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

According to him, recent events have shown that “a peace agreement” between Russia and Ukraine is possible.

At the end of June 2024, the Belarusian State Border Committee announced that it was taking additional measures to protect the border with Ukraine due to information about the presence of militants from the Russian Volunteer Corps near the border. In addition, border guards discovered a warehouse containing 2 kg of explosives and components for making homemade bombs.

Later, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - First Deputy Defense Minister of Belarus Pavel Muraveiko said that Minsk was observing “groundless and incomprehensible activity” in the border area.

Accordingly, the Armed Forces of Ukraine deployed special forces units to the city of Ovruch in the direction of Zhitomir. The military commander later explained that with such forces, the Kiev authorities are able to “saturate” the territory of Belarus with sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

On July 2, President Lukashenko announced that the country's Air Force and Air Defense Forces were on high alert. In addition, border guards were transferred to strengthen border security along the entire line and Special Operations Forces were also deployed.