Brussels, 6 July 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Not many troops of the Russian mercenary force Wagner have relocated to Belarus, said NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday.

"We have seen some preparations for hosting large groups of Wagner soldiers in Belarus," Stoltenberg said, speaking in Brussels.

"So far we haven't seen so many of them going to Belarus," he added.

NATO also observed that Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was "moving a bit around," Stoltenberg said, without providing further details.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said earlier on Thursday Prigozhin has returned to Russia after a brief exile in Belarus while his troops remain in camps.

Prigozhin and his troops were offered a safe haven in Belarus to end the brief uprising by his mercenary force in June.

NATO is closely monitoring the movements of Wagner troops and Prigozhin, Stoltenberg said.

Photo: MIA archive