The spokesperson of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Andriy Demchenko, confirmed a decrease in the number of Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) in Belarus, with most of them moving back to Russia.

"Regarding the presence of Russian mercenaries in Belarus, I can mention that even before August 23 - before the events that took place in Russia - we observed a decrease in the number of mercenaries in Belarus. Not significantly and not rapidly, but gradually, the number of 'Wagnerites' in Belarus was decreasing. And now it's clear that since the 23rd of the month, their number continues to decrease as well," he said during a national telethon on Friday.

According to Demchenko, after the events in Russia, there is a need to approach the presence of mercenaries in Belarus differently.

"According to our information, they left for Russia, particularly under the pretext of vacations, but they did not return to Belarus," the spokesperson said.

Overall, the situation at the border remains under control, emphasized the State Border Guard Service.