The Russian authorities are preparing for a large-scale provocation against Ukraine in Belarus, an MP, Chairman of the Standing Delegation of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada in NATO PA Iryna Friz said on her Facebook page.

"Russian TV channel Star (Zvezda), owned by the Russian Ministry of Defense showed a Soviet propaganda-styled news item about the alleged preparations by Ukraine against the Republic of Belarus. The news item says that Ukrainian intelligence agencies plan to send "a hit squad" of Belarusian origin to Minsk to overthrow the current government in this country," the message says.

This story, according to Friz, is an element of the Russian Federation’s preparation to a large-scale provocation against Ukraine on the territory of Belarus. The MP links this provocation with the fivefold increase of railway transportation volume of the Russian Defense Ministry to Belarus in 2017.

"The purpose of such action may be the elimination of the Lukashenko regime, the introduction of Russian troops, imposition of direct Russian control, as well as stationing Russian Armed Forces on the eastern border of the European Union. The aim is to increase political pressure on Europe," Friz said.

According to Friz, militants who took part in hostilities in Donbas, regular units of special operations forces of Russian Federation and Russian agents serving in Belarusian security agencies may be involved in the planned provocations.