Lukashenko orders sweeping army inspections as mobilization looms

President Alexander Lukashenko declared that Belarus’s armed forces will face extensive readiness inspections, covering tank, motorized rifle and artillery formations, as part of a broad “shake-up” of the military. He framed the inspections as preparation to prevent a war, while indicating that mobilization could be imminent. Lukashenko also revealed that his youngest son, Nikolai, has been conscripted by Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin and now serves as a lieutenant in a particularly demanding unit, a fact he said was previously unknown.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Belarus’s increased military activity, including new road and ammunition storage projects along the Ukraine border, poses a direct threat. Zelensky previously demanded the removal of relay stations used for Russian drone strikes, noting they had ceased operation after his ultimatum. The statements underscore rising tensions between Belarus and Ukraine amid the broader regional conflict.