ALIONA MAZURENKO — MONDAY, 23 MAY 2022, 15:54

The Belarusian Armed Forces have continued and will continue training on borders with Ukraine and Western countries until at least 28 May.

Source: Belaruski Haiun; Russian edition of RIA Novosti

Details: This is evidenced by the schedule of exercises at Belarusian training grounds.

In addition, on 22 May, three Iskander mobile short-range ballistic missile systems were transferred to the border with Ukraine in Belarus.

Preparations for large-scale training are also underway in June – including the sending of summons to civilian reservists.

It is noted that despite the increase in training time on the training grounds, the Belarusian army is still not ready for any offensive military action, but has become more prepared defensively.

The Belarusian Defenсe Ministry said that the next stage of the "response to force check" had begun in their army, which included the withdrawal and conducting of control checks on weapons and equipment in storage.

It is reported that a mobilisation of conscripts is not expected in Belarus.

The continuation of exercises at the Belarusian training grounds at the moment looks like this:

• Borisovsky (227th) until 28 May
• Shooting range №1 near Minsk (Uruchcha) until 28 May
• Gozha (near Grodno) until 28 May
• Brest until 28 May
• Repyshche (Osipovichi) until 27 May
• Marjina Horka until 28 May
• Losvido (near Vitebsk) until 28 May
• Neman (near Berezovka) until 27 May
• Obuz-Lesnoy (near Baranovichi) until 28 May
• Chepelevo (near Slonim) until 28 May
• Domanovo (near Ivatsevichi) until 27 May
• Shooting range under Staryya Darohi until 27 May
• Zaslonova (near Lepel) until 28 May

Background:

• The Belarusian Armed Forces have intensified their reconnaissance activities and are deploying additional units of troops near the Ukrainian-Belarusian border.
• British intelligence says Lukashenko is trying to avoid direct involvement in the war in Ukraine.
• At the same time, Belarus has sent "special operations forces" to the border with Ukraine, because the General Staff of Belarus wants to respond to the "threat" from the Armed Forces of Ukraine along the border.
• Thus, Ukrainian defenders are forced to keep a large contingent on the border with Belarus, instead of strengthening their positions in the east of the country. Additionally, Russian activity has intensified in Moldovan Transnistria.
• On 4 May, after Lukashenko's talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Belarusian Defence Ministry launched a sudden inspection of troops. One missile division deployed forces in Brest on the border with Ukraine and Poland. Military equipment was also spotted in the area of the border with Lithuania.