The Belarusian Defence Ministry said on Sunday that almost 9,000 Russian troops would be stationed in the country as part of a regional grouping of forces to protect its borders.
"The first troop trains with Russian servicemen who are part of the [forces] began to arrive in Belarus," Valeriy Revenko, head of the ministry's international military co-operation department, wrote on Twitter.
"The relocation will take several days. The total number will be a little less than 9,000 people."
More information would be provided at a briefing for military attaches, he said.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said last week that his troops would be posted with Russian soldiers near the Ukrainian border, after what he said were threats from Ukraine and the West.
The announcement follows footage shared by the ministry on Saturday night of what it said were Russian servicemen arriving in Belarus.
Images from the ministry showed soldiers welcomed by women wearing traditional costumes and handing out bread and salt.
Vladimir Putin annexes four regions of Ukraine - in pictures
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From left, Moscow-appointed head of Kherson region Vladimir Saldo, Moscow-appointed head of Zaporizhzhia region Yevgeny Balitsky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, leader of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin, and leader of the Luhansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik during a ceremony to sign an annexation agreement with Russia in Moscow. AP -
Russians gather for a celebration after the ceremony in central Moscow. EPA -
People gather near a screen showing Mr Putin during a broadcast of the ceremony. Reuters -
Mr Putin speaks during the ceremony to sign the treaties for the new territories' accession to Russia at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. EPA -
Law enforcement officers stand guard as people walk towards Red Square to attend the ceremony marking the annexation of the Russian-controlled territories. Reuters -
Participants listen to Mr Putin at the ceremony in the Georgievsky Hall of the Great Kremlin Palace in Moscow. Reuters -
Honour guards attend the ceremony. Reuters -
Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu arrives at the ceremony. AP -
People walk towards Red Square in Moscow. Reuters -
People gather in front of screens located near the Kremlin before the live broadcast of the ceremony. Reuters
The ministry’s press service said the decision for the regional grouping of troops “was made and is being implemented solely in the interests of strengthening the protection and defence of the state border of the Union state on the territory of Belarus”.
“This decision was caused by the ongoing activity in the border areas," it said on its Telegram channel.
Russia assailed at UN Security Council over Ukraine war - in pictures
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends a meeting of the UN Security Council during which Moscow was strongly criticised over the war in Ukraine. Reuters -
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba speaks at the meeting, in which US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russian President Vladimir Putin should be held to account. AFP -
Mr Lavrov defended Russia's actions in Ukraine. Reuters -
Mr Blinken listens to Mr Lavrov. Russia has announced a "partial mobilisation" of citizens, calling up 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine. AFP -
Mr Lavrov at the UN. Russia has stated its willingness to use nuclear weapons to defend its territory. Reuters -
Mr Blinken speaks in New York. Reuters -
Mr Lavrov and Russian deputy foreign minister Sergey Vershinin, left, confer during the Security Council meeting on Ukraine. EPA -
Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly watches Mr Lavrov walk out while he is speaking. AP Photo -
Mr Lavrov leaving the chamber. Reuters -
Mr Blinken is deep in concentration. Reuters
Last Monday, Mr Lukashenko claimed Ukraine was plotting to attack his country and announced the joint force with Moscow.
He accused Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine of training Belarusian radicals "to carry out sabotage, terrorist attacks and to organise a military mutiny in the country".
The Russian posting raised fears that Belarusian troops could join Moscow's forces in their offensive in Ukraine.
On Friday Mr Lukashenko said that the Belarusian army and its 70,000 troops would constitute the "base" of this joint force.
He did not specify how many Russian soldiers were expected to join.
"We do not need to ask for 10,000 to 15,000 people from Russia," Mr Lukashenko said. "They have other issues over there, as you know."
Minsk said Tuesday that the contingent was "purely defensive".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a G7 meeting last Tuesday accused Russia of "trying to directly draw Belarus into this war".
Mr Zelenskyy called for an international observers mission to be placed on the Ukraine-Belarus border.
Mr Lukashenko told NBC last Friday night that his country supported Russia but "we did not kill anyone and we are not going to kill anyone".
"No one asked us to get involved in this operation, not Russia in this case, and we do not intend to get involved," he said.
Mr Lukashenko said his country was "treating Russians and Ukrainians, feeding Russians and Ukrainians", and welcoming Ukrainian refugees.
He is an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and allowed Belarusian territory to be used by Moscow's troops to launch an invasion of Ukraine in February.
But Belarusian armed forces have up to now not taken part in the offensive. Belarus relies financially and politically on Russia.
