Belarus’s Lukashenko: ‘We Are All Preparing for War’

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced rotational mobilization and intensified combat training to prepare the military for possible war, citing the need for readiness for a “ground operation.” The move follows combat inspections and rising regional tensions, as Ukraine warns Russia may seek to further involve Belarus in the war along their shared border. Make us preferred on Google Flip Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Russia's President Vladimir Putin (C-R) and Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko (C-L) atthe Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 9, 2026. Igor IVANKO / AFP Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Belarus’s President Alexander Lukashenko has announced a rotational mobilization of selected military units “in order to prepare them for war.” The Belarusian president said the new approach was in preparation for a possible “ground operation,” state news agency Belta reported on May 12. “We will selectively mobilize units, the armed forces, in order to prepare them for war,” Lukashenko said. “God willing, it will be possible to avoid it. We are all preparing for war.” Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The strategy marks a move away from periodic large-scale drills and will involve units being called up in turns for intensive combat training camps, Belta said. The move followed combat-readiness inspections of the country’s armed forces, after which a “serious discussion” was held at the defense ministry to discuss the shortcomings revealed, Lukashenko said. The inspections form part of an increased emphasis by Minsk on the country’s preparedness for conflict, with Lukashenko saying on Monday that the armed forces must be modernized. In April, the Belarusian head of state issued a decree calling up reserve officers, having in March launched conscription for compulsory military service of men aged 18–27. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said in April that Russia sought to draw Belarus into its war against Ukraine and that roads and artillery positions had been prepared near the two countries’ border. Other Topics of Interest Russian Drones Strike Two Kharkiv Districts Overnight Russian forces carried out two drone strikes on Kharkiv in the early hours of Wednesday, hitting the Shevchenkivskyi and Kholodnohirskyi districts. Officials said drone debris fell on a road and an infrastructure facility caught fire, while casualty reports were not immediately available. Belarus has been one of Russia’s closest allies during the war, allowing Moscow to use its territory as a launchpad for the 2022 invasion. On May 2, Zelensky said “specific activity” had been observed on the Belarusian side of the border and that Kyiv was monitoring the situation and would respond if necessary. See the original of this report by Ewan Jones here.