Today, Tuesday 2 February, Belarus began military exercises in the areas located on the border between Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland. The operations will continue for three days, as reported by the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, in particular in the Gomel and Grodno regions: the objective is to intensify defensive training directly on the field. The mobilization takes place after the alarm, raised by Lithuania, of a possible attack by Belarus.
The exercise
In the period from April 2 to 4, under the leadership of the military commissioner of the Gomel region, this exercise will take place in which both national militias and officials from the Rogachev and Kormyan districts will take part. An assessment of the readiness of military units will also be carried out, in order to proceed with targeted training that fills the gaps highlighted in the more complex procedures. On the same days, similar exercises will be held in the Voronovsk district of the Grodno region. The troops will also learn how to behave in case martial law is enacted.
Other military operations
The Ministry of Defense also said that in the period from April 2 to 26, under the leadership of the head of the executive committee of the Viley district of the Minsk region, another exercise will be held in which members of several battalions will take part and will welcome new recruits. During this gathering, cadets will begin their specialized training. All these events can be traced back to a general mobilization that began in Belarus on March 11, with the aim of strengthening the country’s military defenses. At least 3 thousand reservists are involved in these exercises. Some mercenaries from the Wagner paramilitary group, disbanded by the Kremlin, also took part.
The position of Belarus
Belarus is undoubtedly Moscow’s closest ally. Its relations with Western countries have worsened in recent years, ever since President Lukashenko allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory to launch an attack on Kiev. In recent days, Lithuania has expressed concern about a possible military attack by Belarus against neighboring countries, following a video circulating on Telegram in which Lukashenko himself does not rule out this possibility.
Lukashenko’s words
The Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko declared today (Tuesday 2 April), during a visit to the city of Grodno (near which the military exercise is starting at this time) that the country is «preparing for war». He brings it back the Belta news agency. «We must not believe anyone who says we want to go to war. We are preparing for war, I openly admit it. I didn’t invent the maxim: if you want peace, prepare for war, but it is absolutely true», said the president, who then he added: «If Westerners want to complain and criticize our actions, I will understand that we are doing the right thing. If they started praising us, then it would be bad news». Lukashenko has made it clear that Belarus is willing to let Russia use its territory to launch a new offensive against Ukraine (which has already happened) and that it is ready to take an active part in the war if Kiev shows itself even more aggressive towards him.
The EU’s response
«The EU poses a threat only to those who despise democracy, human rights, citizens’ rights and respect for international rules and law in international relations. It is not an aggressive alliance, there is no need to fear it, except for those who seek to undermine respect for international rules and for democracy and human rights.” This was said by the EU spokesperson for foreign policy, Peter Stano, when asked in the press briefing regarding the declarations of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, who is allegedly preparing for war. «We do not consider him a president – added Stano -, he has defrauded the elections and continues to oppress his population, he is complicit in the crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine and we are working to make Europe equipped to face all the threats that come from people like Lukashenko.”
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