Belarusian forces to hold exercises with Wagner fighters near border with Poland

Belarusian forces will hold exercises with Wagner fighters near its border with Poland, Belarus' Defense Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. 

"The Armed Forces of Belarus continue joint training with the fighters of PMC 'Wagner,'" the ministry said, referring to the paramilitary company

"During the week, units of the special operations forces together with representatives of the company will work out training and combat tasks at the Brestsky training ground."

The ministry didn't say when exactly the exercises would take place.

 At the beginning of July, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko invited Wagner forces into Belarus to help train his country’s military. The invite came shortly after the failed armed insurrection by Wagner forces against Moscow, which Lukashenko was credited with helping diffuse. 

A video emerged on Wednesday that appears to show Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin greeting his fighters in Belarus, in what would be his first public appearance since he led an armed rebellion in Russia last month. CNN geolocated the video to a previously disused military base in Asipovichy, roughly 80 kilometers (49 miles) southeast of the capital Minsk