ukraine. nada bashir, thank you so much. the president of belarus will be meeting soon with russian leader vladimir putin reportedly to work on strength ning their strategic alliance. last month, putin claimed russia had deployed tax call nuclear weapons to belarus. u.s. intelligence officials say they have no reason to doubt it. ukraine estimates up to 5,000 wagner mercenaries are encamped in belarus, and more keep coming. ukraine s border guard says it does not see those fighters as a direct threat, but it s taking no chances. according to a senior commander, the border region has been heavily mined to deter any potential incursion from belarus. you d think an avid supporter of russia s war on ukraine would enjoy the favor of the putin government, but former fsb colonel igor gherkin is under arrest in moscow, charged with inciting extremism.