At Belarus border, Ukrainians alert over Wagner threat

At a long-closed crossing point from Ukraine to Belarus, Oleg, a camouflage-clad guard carrying a Kalashnikov, says he has seen no sign of Wagner mercenaries across the border, some 150 metres away.

Ukraine's military said it was reinforcing the border with Belarus with trenches and mines as some Russian mercenaries were expected to move to the country following their aborted mutiny against Moscow's top brass.

Ukraine is ready to "rebuff" Russia's forces including Wagner, said Oleg, 26, as he patrolled the Slavutych border crossing point, closed since February 24 last year, when Russian forces entered the Chernigiv region from Belarus at the start of the invasion.

"Since we were stabbed in the back from the territory of Belarus, we do not reject... that there may be some movements or deployment of Wagner fighters on Belarusian territory," Oleg told AFP.

Uncertainty persists over the fate of the mutinous Wagner troops since a deal was sealed between Moscow and Minsk, which should have seen some of them move to Belarus.

The Belarusian defence ministry confirmed on Friday that at least some had arrived, and were instructing local troops.

President Volodymyr Zelensky downplayed the move, saying Ukraine was "closely monitoring developments there from a security perspective, and currently, there are no major threats". 

Driving south to the nearby village of Dniprovske, there were signs of activity in the woods: men in camouflage and fortifications, as well as a dummy figure positioned at the roadside.

The village's main street has two shops, a war memorial and church. A family of storks was nesting on top of a telegraph pole.

Smallholder Viktor Koren, 76, was walking to the shop to buy sour cream.

He...