Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko (Image: Getty)

       Alexander Lukashenko has said Belarus is struggling to restrain Wagner Group fighters from attacking Poland.

       The leader of Belarus made the claim at a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg.

       Lukashenko said: "The Wagnerites are beginning to stretch us. I ask, 'Why do you need to go to the West?'

       "[They say,] 'We want to go on an excursion to Warsaw, to Rzeszow'."

       The Belarusian leader also presented Putin with what he claimed to be a map of Poland’s plan to attack Belarus.

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       Putin recently warned an attack on Belarus would constitute an attack on Russia.

       Lukashenko said: "As we can see, the ground is being prepared."

       Lukashenko said Wagner troops, who launched joint drills with the Belarusian military on Thursday almost a month after their short-lived rebellion against Moscow, wanted to go west but Belarus would not allow the mercenary force to relocate.

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       Putin and Lukashenko on a walkabout in Kronstadt (Image: Getty)

       He said: "I am keeping them in central Belarus, like we agreed. ... We are controlling what is happening."

       Some analysts have warned the Kremlin may be setting up a "false flag" incident in an attempt to justify an attack on Poland.

       Wagner mercenaries have been training Belarusian special forces on the border with Poland.

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       Putin and Lukashenko shake hands at a meeting (Image: Getty)

       Putin said talks would also take place on Monday (July 24) and claimed Kyiv's counteroffensive had failed.

       On the same day Putin and Lukashenko met in St Petersburg, Russia struck the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa, maintaining a barrage of attacks which have damaged critical port infrastructure in southern Ukraine.

       Officials said at least one person was killed and 22 others wounded in the early morning attack.

       Four children were among those wounded in the blasts, which severely damaged 25 landmarks across the city, including the historic Transfiguration Cathedral.

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