The armed forces of Belarus began sudden large-scale drills on Wednesday to test their combat readiness, the local Defence Ministry says.
During the inspection, the country’s military units will practise getting fully operational, marching to designated areas and performing combat and training tasks. The purpose of the inspection is to assess the readiness and ability of personnel to quickly respond to possible crises. The units will have to operate in unfamiliar areas in a rapidly changing environment. The number of troops involved in the inspection will be gradually increased, which will allow checking their ability to counter military threats both on the ground and in the air, reported the ministry.
“These activities are some of the most effective forms of troop training and do not pose any threat to the European community as a whole or to the neighbouring countries in particular,” ensures the ministry, adding that the inspection requires moving a significant amount of military equipment, which may complicate travelling on public roads.
Russian President Vladimir Putin might formally declare war on Ukraine as soon as 9 May, a move that would enable the full mobilisation of Russia's reserve forces, US and Western officials believe, according to CNN. Putin is looking to leverage the symbolic significance and propaganda value of that day to announce either a military achievement in Ukraine, a major escalation of hostilities – or both.
