Shoigu calls for coordination of Russia and Belarus' steps to confront more than 50 Western countries

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu stressed that Russia and Belarus must unite, as they have done in past decades and centuries, to stand together against the West.

"More than 50 Western countries are involved in armament, training, combat operations, sending mercenaries and trainers," Shoigu said after meeting with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Volfovich.

"Many operations are being planned by the West. So we need to come together, as we have done in the past decades and centuries," he continued.

Earlier, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin reported that President Alexander Lukashenko had ordered the reinforcement of the Armed Forces group in the Gomel and Mozyr tactical directions in the south near the border with Ukraine.

Khrenin noted that these measures were taken against the backdrop of developments in the situation in Ukraine, as well as in the Kursk region in Russia.

Minister Khrenin noted that Belarus considers the flight of Ukrainian drones over its territory to be a provocation.

Earlier,  President Lukashenko said that on August 9, Belarusian air defense forces destroyed several air targets in the south of the country, believed to be attack drones coming from the direction of Ukraine.