Border guards from both countries kept their eyes fixed on the overgrown road leading to the ruins of what was once a bridge linking Ukraine and Belarus, with fears in Kyiv that it could once again become a flashpoint.<\/p>\n
When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, it used Belarusian territory as a springboard, sending thousands of troops across the border to try to capture Kyiv, just 100 kilometres (60 miles) to the south.<\/p>\n
In recent weeks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said multiple times that Russia could be preparing a repeat attack.<\/p>\n
Along the 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) border, troops from both sides face each other with suspicion.<\/p>\n
“They can see us from across the river, with their cameras,” said the Ukrainian deputy commander of the border post, whose nom de guerre, “Brat”, means “brother”.<\/p>\n
Weapon in hand and looking out across the Dnipro river, he was on alert, despite the stillness of the forest.<\/p>\n
The post still bears the scars of the Russian attack in 2022, when it was shelled to make way for armoured vehicles.<\/p>\n
“We had to blow up this bridge\u00a0to stop the enemy columns,” Brat told AFP.<\/p>\n
– Calm tension –<\/p>\n
Moscow and Minsk last month held joint military exercises involving nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory.<\/p>\n
Soon afterwards, Zelensky ordered security to be reinforced along the northern border, saying Moscow was trying to draw Minsk further into the invasion.<\/p>\n
At the checkpoint, Brat said he had not seen evidence that an attack was imminent.<\/p>\n
“We are not currently observing any changes in the situation,” the 31-year-old guard said.<\/p>\n
“No armed formations or military equipment are being detected in the border area on the Belarusian side.”<\/p>\n
Nearby, rusting signs — a mix of Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian — swayed in the wind.<\/p>\n
Behind coils of barbed wire, Ukrainian guards scanned the opposite bank.<\/p>\n
From the air, the border is a stretch of forest, winding river and barbed wire.<\/p>\n
Hidden beneath a tree, two Ukrainian border guards who go by the names “Alex” and “Chip”, were watching footage being relayed by a surveillance drone.<\/p>\n
It showed Belarusian border guards patrolling the river in motorboats.<\/p>\n
The two sides regularly pass each other on the river — keeping their distance to avoid any incidents.<\/p>\n
Rival drones also keep watch from the air, careful not to cross the invisible border.<\/p>\n
“Perhaps somewhere deep within the territory of the Republic of Belarus, something might be happening,” Chip said.<\/p>\n
“But we aren’t seeing it.”<\/p>\n
Breaking the silence were cuckoo calls and the hum of a Soviet-era tractor.<\/p>\n
– ‘Be ready’ –<\/p>\n
Analysts say a new Russian or Belarusian offensive into northern Ukraine is unlikely, pointing to Moscow’s lack of manpower for a major ground operation.<\/p>\n
Kyiv had issued similar warnings in 2023 and 2024 but nothing materialised.<\/p>\n
Still, many had doubted Russia would launch its full-scale invasion before February 2022.<\/p>\n
“It is not a question of whether you believe it or not,” Chip said.<\/p>\n
“We must be ready for any situation. As for how it will turn out — time will tell.”<\/p>\n
The drone returned, landing softly in the grass as an elderly woman cycled past.<\/p>\n
Along the 40-kilometre stretch between the border and Chernigiv, the regional capital, armoured excavators were digging trenches.<\/p>\n
Anti-drone nets stretched above checkpoints — measures previously reserved for frontline combat zones.<\/p>\n
In the city centre, life appeared calm.<\/p>\n
Olga Vasylekno was walking through a sunlit park, past crowded cafe terraces with her son and partner.<\/p>\n
Yet she was not completely at ease.<\/p>\n
Responding to Zelensky, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Minsk would “never” deploy troops in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
But he also said he knew of “a big target” near the border.<\/p>\n
Russia occupied part of the surrounding region for a month after it invaded in 2022, laying siege to the city of some 300,000.<\/p>\n
Fears that it could happen again have become a topic of conversation.<\/p>\n
“We have to cope with this,” Olga said.<\/p>\n
“We ourselves understand where we live, in a city near the front line.”<\/p>\n
“Nobody rules out the possibility of this,” she added.<\/p>\n
Behind her, cranes were repairing buildings damaged in recent Russian strikes.<\/p>\n
“I have faith in our armed forces and believe they won’t let them through,” she said.<\/p>\n
Still, her evacuation bag is already packed, just as it was in 2022.<\/p>\n
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