Mateusz Jaronski/Euronews
Minsk insists there is no cause for concern, and the Belarusian defence ministry describes the exercises as “purely defensive”.
Belarus has begun four-day military exercises near its borders with Poland and Lithuania, the Belarusian service of Radio Free Europe reported, citing the defence ministry in Minsk.
The drills involve mechanised and tank battalions, with troops training in border protection, counter-sabotage operations and defence against drone and light aircraft attacks.
The location is significant. Some exercises are taking place near the Suwałki Gap, a narrow corridor between Poland and Lithuania considered strategically critical by NATO.
Of particular note are the Hoża training ground, situated on the Lithuanian border, and the Brzeski and Różański ranges, located roughly 15 and 60 kilometres from the Polish border, respectively.
A sensitive point on NATO’s eastern flank
The Suwałki Gap is one of the most strategically sensitive areas in terms of security in this part of Europe.
This 104-kilometre stretch of the Polish-Lithuanian border provides a land link between the Baltic states and the rest of NATO, while at the same time separating Belarus from Russia’s Kaliningrad region.
Minsk insists there is no cause for concern, and the Belarusian defence ministry describes the exercises as “purely defensive”.
The authorities also claim that the number of participants and the amount of weaponry being used do not exceed the thresholds set out in the 2011 Vienna Document, which would require prior notification of other states.
However, no precise figure has been given for the number of soldiers taking part in the drills.
Belarus: manoeuvres in the shadow of the war in Ukraine
The exercises now underway form part of broader efforts to test the readiness of Belarus’s armed forces.
On 11 September, Alyaksandr Lukashenka visited the Obuz-Lesnowski training ground near Baranavichy.
The Belarusian leader said at the time that he wanted to review the functioning of the entire national security sector.
Minsk has for years been holding military exercises close to NATO’s borders, and in the past Russian troops have often taken part in them.
In 2020, the “Slavic Brotherhood” manoeuvres were held at a training ground in the Brest area, followed a year later by the Zapad 21 exercises.
The current situation, however, lends such activities an additional dimension. Belarus remains one of Russia’s closest allies.
In February 2022, the authorities in Minsk allowed Russian forces to use Belarusian infrastructure and territory to conduct operations against Ukraine.
Belarus has not, however, deployed its own armed forces in direct combat on Ukrainian territory.
Radio Svaboda points out that, for this reason, Minsk is not considered a party to the conflict under the humanitarian law criteria cited.
However, the extent of the support provided to Russia, which includes logistical and military aspects, among others, continues to draw international criticism.
In recent days new information has also emerged about cooperation between the two countries.
On Monday Ukraine’s Border Guard Service reported that Russian forces are using Belarusian relay stations to control drones attacking targets in western Ukraine.
