MINSK, 18 August (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on the large flows of Ukrainian military-age men fleeing war in an interview with the Rossiya TV channel, BelTA has learned.
"Ukraine is fighting against an empire [Russia] and its people are fleeing from the war... They say, they are fighting a patriotic war. But if it is patriotic war, why men are running away? They must fight. We survived the Patriotic War together. No one fled then," the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that now Poland and other countries friendly to Ukraine have begun to catch Ukrainian citizens in order to send them to the front. "Where are they running? They can't go to Russia, because there is the frontline on the way. They began to run to Belarus," the president said.
"Mobilization dodgers?" the interviewer specified.
"Yes, mobilization dodgers. They are running to us, through us, and so on, in great numbers. Some want to settle in Belarus with children and we give them citizenship. I feel sorry for the people. For the most part, they are fleeing to the West, to Poland," Aleksandr Lukashenko added.
Answering the clarifying question whether he means men of military age who cross the borders, the president said: "Yes, they account for to 98% of the flow. These are men who are fleeing from the war and who do not want to fight."
"Well, how can you fight the empire when you have no one to fight with? We see what is happening in the theater of war and what is happening in Ukraine. Of course, not everyone is fleeing. You, too, say so in 60 Minutes [socio-political show on the Rossiya TV channel]. Not everybody. There are motivated people," the Belarusian head of state stated.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that now Poland and other countries friendly to Ukraine have begun to catch Ukrainian citizens in order to send them to the front. "Where are they running? They can't go to Russia, because there is the frontline on the way. They began to run to Belarus," the president said.
"Mobilization dodgers?" the interviewer specified.
"Yes, mobilization dodgers. They are running to us, through us, and so on, in great numbers. Some want to settle in Belarus with children and we give them citizenship. I feel sorry for the people. For the most part, they are fleeing to the West, to Poland," Aleksandr Lukashenko added.
Answering the clarifying question whether he means men of military age who cross the borders, the president said: "Yes, they account for to 98% of the flow. These are men who are fleeing from the war and who do not want to fight."
"Well, how can you fight the empire when you have no one to fight with? We see what is happening in the theater of war and what is happening in Ukraine. Of course, not everyone is fleeing. You, too, say so in 60 Minutes [socio-political show on the Rossiya TV channel]. Not everybody. There are motivated people," the Belarusian head of state stated.
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