Lukashenko announces targeted mobilization in Belarus

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press
ANKARA, TÜRKİYE — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Belarus plans to carry out a “targeted” mobilization of selected military units to prepare them for possible war.

Lukashenko made the remarks during a meeting with Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, according to the state news agency BELTA. The Belarusian leader claimed that authorities in Minsk are “committed to peace,” but said the army must be ready for potential combat operations.

Lukashenko meets defense minister

Lukashenko discussed military readiness, defense planning and the results of combat-readiness inspections with Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin.

According to Khrenin, the meeting reviewed the results of army readiness checks conducted on Lukashenko’s orders and within the plans of the Defense Ministry and General Staff. He said the military leadership had drawn “certain conclusions” from the inspections.

The meeting took place amid continued regional tension caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine. Belarus has remained one of Moscow’s closest allies since the start of the full-scale invasion, while Kyiv continues to monitor Belarusian territory for signs of possible military activity.

“We will prepare units for war”

During the meeting, Lukashenko said Belarusian authorities are focused on peace but must prepare the army for war scenarios.

“As I promised, we will continue to mobilize units in a targeted way in order to prepare them for war. God grant that it can be avoided,” Lukashenko said.

The phrase “targeted mobilization” suggests a more limited process than a nationwide general mobilization. It could involve selected military units, specialist personnel or specific formations being placed at a higher level of readiness.

However, Belarusian authorities did not provide detailed information on which units would be affected, how many personnel would be involved or how long the preparations would last.

Combat-readiness checks reviewed

Khrenin said the results of combat-readiness checks were discussed during the meeting. These inspections are intended to assess the army’s current capacity, response speed and readiness for assigned tasks.

Belarus has frequently announced military exercises, border security checks and troop movements in recent years. Minsk presents these measures as defensive, while Ukraine and Western countries view Belarus’s close military ties with Russia as a continuing security concern.

For Kyiv, military activity in Belarus is especially sensitive because of the country’s proximity to northern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials continue to monitor Belarusian border regions for any signs of a renewed threat.

Kyiv urges caution over threat assessment

Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, responded to Lukashenko’s comments by saying the Belarusian leader was serving Russia’s information agenda.

Kovalenko urged the public not to exaggerate the threat. He said Ukraine would see any real danger if it emerged.

“If there is a threat, Ukraine will see it, and then Lukashenko will regret it. I think he knows that,” Kovalenko said.

His comments suggest that Kyiv does not dismiss the possibility of a threat from Belarus, but also sees an information and psychological dimension in Lukashenko’s statements.

Russia’s information agenda

Kovalenko’s claim that Lukashenko is working through Russia’s information agenda reflects a broader Ukrainian concern about Belarus’s role in the war.

Ukrainian officials believe Moscow may use Belarus-related statements to create fear of a northern front and force Ukraine to divide attention and resources.

Such statements can create public anxiety in Ukraine, especially because Belarusian territory was used by Russian forces at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. However, Kyiv has repeatedly said that real military threats are assessed through intelligence, border monitoring and observable troop movements, not statements alone.

What targeted mobilization may mean

Targeted mobilization usually differs from full mobilization. It may involve calling up selected reservists, increasing readiness in specific units, checking equipment, preparing logistics or testing wartime command structures.

The term can also serve a political purpose. By using the word “targeted,” Minsk may seek to show readiness without creating panic associated with full-scale mobilization.

For Belarus, this approach allows the leadership to send a deterrence message while avoiding the domestic and international implications of a wider mobilization.

Regional tension remains high

Lukashenko’s remarks show that regional security tensions remain elevated as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues.

Belarus is strategically important because it borders Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Any Belarusian military activity is closely watched by Kyiv and NATO’s eastern flank.

At the same time, Ukrainian officials caution that statements from Minsk may not always signal an immediate military threat. Some remarks may be intended to support information warfare or psychological pressure.

Lukashenko’s combination of a peace message and a call to prepare units for war reflects Minsk’s attempt to project deterrence while keeping pressure on Ukraine and the region. In the coming days, military movements in Belarus, border monitoring and Ukrainian assessments will be key indicators of whether the rhetoric turns into concrete action.

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