Belarus announces military drills with Russia near Ukraine border

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service patrol along the Ukraine-Belarus border, near the border with Poland, in Volyn region, Ukraine November 16, 2021. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Belarus on Monday announced joint military drills with close ally Russia on its southern border with Ukraine and accused the NATO military alliance of building up offensive capabilities near its borders.

U.S., NATO and Ukrainian officials say Russia has built up forces near Ukraine, sparking fears of a looming attack. Moscow denies any such plan. Belarus is itself locked in a row with the European Union over migrants camped at its western border.