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Belarus has announced a decision to temporarily restrict access to parts of the southeastern Gomel region, which borders Ukraine and Russia, reports Reuters.

The government announced on its website that it will "temporarily restrict entry, temporary stay and movement in the border zone within Loevsky, Braginsky and Khoiniki districts of Gomel Oblast".

We recall that Russian forces used Belarus as a springboard for their failed attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in February, and in recent months we have witnessed increasing military activity by Russia and Belarus.

The government did not say how long the restriction would last, but said it did not apply to officials, workers and residents of those areas.

Belarus began organizing so-called anti-sabotage exercises in the Gomel region on October 11.

Russian servicemen arrived in Belarus four days later to join the regional grouping created by the neighbors.

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