The United States says there is no evidence of bio-Russian troops in Ukraine

Photo: Sergei Subinsky / AFP

The Pentagon said on Friday that it had no evidence that the United States had deployed troops in Belarus, Russia’s staunch ally.

“We do not see any evidence of Belarusian forces or forces entering Ukraine,” said Defense Ministry spokesman John Kirby.

“We do not monitor the immediate involvement of Belarusian forces,” Kirby said. “That doesn’t mean it won’t or won’t happen,” he added.

A Pentagon spokesman said the United States had taken note of the words of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko: “In the event of an attack, our troops will come out to defend the rear of Russian forces.”

“This is the first time that Belarus has been said to be involved,” Kirby added, adding that “there is no indication that they did or that it was in the pipeline.”

A U.S. defense official said Friday that Russian forces had fired more than 80 missiles from Belarus into Ukraine.

Russia has launched an estimated 800 missiles against Ukraine.

The official said more than half of the missiles were fired from Ukrainian soil and less than half from Russia.