Belarus has started a full inspection of its armed forces, pushing the army to maximum combat readiness, TASS said on Sunday.
Inspection of Belarusian Army
Information from TASS quoted an official statement by the Belarusian Ministry of Defense, saying the government has begun inspecting military forces to bring them to the highest combat readiness level. The ministry said the inspection, carried out under the direction of the State Secretariat of the Security Council of Belarus, involves a comprehensive set of measures to elevate the army to maximum readiness, with some units being redeployed to designated areas to perform tasks as ordered.
Zapad‑2025 Maneuvers
In early September, Belarus and Russia conducted the Zapad‑2025 military exercises, testing capabilities on land, sea and air. Initial reports said 13‑30,000 soldiers – mainly Russian but also Belarusian – participated, but Russian President Vladimir Putin later claimed that 100,000 personnel took part. The exercises were smaller than the 2021 iteration, using fewer resources because the Kremlin has committed most of its equipment and troops to the Ukraine war. Demonstrations included the hypersonic Oresnik missile and Barnet strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
Poland Sets Conditions for Minsk
Polish officials said that Warsaw may open some border crossings with Belarus if three conditions are met: President Alexander Lukashenko must end the migrant crisis on the Polish‑Belarusian border, release Andrei Poczobut who has been imprisoned for more than four years, and cooperate with the investigation into the murder of Polish soldier Sergeant Mateusz Sitka. The newspaper Rzeczpospolita quoted spokespersons saying that progress on these matters has been slow and that Russian involvement is obvious because many Belarusian migrants hold Russian visas, allowing them to travel legally to Belarus and then to Poland. The spokesperson added that Lukashenko could halt the crossings at any time.
