KYIV, June 30 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy ordered top military commanders on Friday to strengthen Ukraine's northern military sector following the arrival of Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in Belarus.
He said a meeting with government and military leaders had also heard a report from Ukrainian intelligence and security forces about the situation in Belarus, Ukraine's northern neighbour.
"The decision...is for Commander-in-Chief (Valeriy) Zaluzhnyi and 'North' commander (Serhiy) Naev to implement a set of measures to strengthen this direction," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app.
Zelenskiy said the situation in other frontline areas, supplies of artillery and shells, and advances by Ukrainian troops against Russia's occupying forces were also discussed at the meeting.
After pushing Russian out of northern regions last year, Ukraine implemented measures to tighten the defence of its border with Belarus, a close ally of Russia.
Persons:
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Serhiy, Naev, Zelenskiy, Wagner, Prigozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, Olena Harmash, Timothy
Organizations:
Saturday, Media, Russia, Timothy Heritage, Thomson
Locations:
Belarus, Russia, Asipovichi, Minsk, Ukraine