Since the navy organisation’s temporary mutiny in opposition to the Kremlin in June, the “Russian state has acted against some other business interests of Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin”, stated the Ministry of Defence yesterday.

In an intelligence replace, it added: “There is a realistic possibility that the Kremlin no longer funds the group. If the Russian state no longer pays Wagner, the second most plausible paymasters are the Belarusian authorities.”

Such a scenario could be a “significant and potentially unwelcome drain on modest Belarusian resources”.

It comes as Poland put an additional 10,000 troops on its border with Belarus amid worries in regards to the menace from Russia and Belarus in addition to unlawful migration.

Poland’s defence minister Mariusz Blaszczak made the announcement at Jarylowka navy camp close to the border. He stated it was a deterrent transfer, rejecting claims from Minsk and Moscow that it was a hostile act.

Mr Blaszczak stated: “There is no doubt that the Belarus regime is cooperating with the Kremlin and that the attacks on the Polish border are intended to destabilise our country.”

Two Belarus navy helicopters briefly entered Poland’s airspace final week.

Mr Blaszczak stated Belarus’ actions “pose a threat to our security” and Poland is build up its potential “to deter an aggressor”.

Tensions have been seen in a closed Polish-Belarusian railway border crossing at Gobiaty, Poland, with the phrase Mir written in Cyrillic, that means “Peace”.

Meanwhile, rehearsals continued for Polish Armed Forces Day in Warsaw tomorrow. More than 2,000 troopers plus tanks and planes will participate.