For days, Ukraine has feared Belarus entering the war and with it a new front in the north. But things could get complicated for the invaders: the local beaver population is unknowingly becoming an ally of Ukraine.
At least since last week, when Russia’s President Vladimir Putin eloquently declared that ally Belarus could not be ruled out going to war, Ukrainian concerns about another front in the north-west of the country have been growing. But nothing will probably come of it in the coming weeks. Because Ukraine apparently has a new ally: the local beaver.
Thick mud and flooded fields: beaver dams make an attack on Ukraine from Belarus almost impossible
As the Reuters news agency reports, the terrain in north-western Ukraine is currently practically impassable. Overflowing rivers have flooded fields and turned the border area with Belarus into a muddy wasteland. One reason for this is the unusually mild temperatures. Second, the local beaver population is unwittingly becoming an ally of Ukraine.
As reported by the Berliner Zeitung, among others, Serhiy Chominskyi, spokesman for a unit of the Ukrainian armed forces, said that normally people would destroy the dams that the rodents build. This did not happen last year because of the war. Therefore there is water everywhere.
Entry into the war not ruled out: Belarus and Russia will hold joint military exercises from Monday
The beaver dams give Ukraine some breathing room with a view of Belarus. For several days, Kyiv has feared that Russia’s ally could get involved in the war. During the invasion on February 24, 2022, Moscow had already used the neighboring country to invade Ukraine from the north. The joint exercise maneuvers that started on Monday are also worrying Ukraine.
Russian attack
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Viktor Rokun, one of the commanders of the local Ukrainian unit, said the many watercourses and overflowing rivers in the border area with Belarus would help in the defense. Other experts, who consider an advance through such a difficult area to be unlikely, see it similarly.
Source: “”
Source: Stern
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