MINSK, 7 April (BelTA) – A special operation has been carried out to return Belarusian semi-truck drivers from Ukraine. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement at a session of the Security Council on 7 April, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Things went too far and these scoundrels started capturing our people, primarily drivers of the vehicles, which happened to be there at the time. They arrested about 1,500 railway cars of ours, captured our automobiles, and I think up to 100 our guys, who were driving these semi-trucks. I warned Ukrainians that we would be forced to stage an operation to free these people. We carried out such a special operation and freed all our people.”
The president did not reveal the details but instructed Chairman of the State Security Committee Ivan Tertel to nominate all the participants of the operation for government awards.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “It went brilliantly. Even you didn't notice it. If we have one, two, three, five people left over there somewhere, we have to specify our terms: if they don't comply, we will answer in a different manner. [Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir] Makei should talk to this Ukrainian ambassador. They risk a lot. There are quite many Ukrainians led by the ambassador here. We treat them according to the law, humanely. But the situation is different now. This is why: you behaved badly, we were forced to respond.”
