Russia to deploy several jets to Belarus

Russia will send more warplanes to its military ally Belarus in response to the increased activity of NATO near the borders of the former Soviet republic, the commander of the Belarusian air force announced on Wednesday.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said that it will ask Russia to deploy 12 to 15 warplanes on its territory after the United States and Poland started the war games that should represent at least 12 U.S. F- 16 aircraft combat .

“We reacted calmly until large-scale exercises started … in Poland,” said Lukashenko. ” There is a clear escalation of the situation close to our borders,” he added.

He said Belarus ask Russia to send “no more than 12 to 15 aircraft,” indicating that the request was made under a provision of a ” union treaty ” signed by the two countries.