Belarus readies for Russian military influx amidst secretive plans
Russians are planning to transfer equipment to Belarus. According to reports, Minsk is preparing to receive trains with Russian military equipment, personnel, and ammunition. Units from Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories may also be sent to Belarus.
8:17 AM EDT, May 16, 2024
The RBC Ukraine portal reports, citing the Belarusian Signal Telegram channel, that Belarus may be preparing to receive trains with Russian military equipment, personnel, and ammunition. According to information provided by the Belarusian Railway Community, units from Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories may be sent to Belarus.
Railway workers emphasize that Minsk is taking measures to ensure the secrecy of these transports. The Belarusian Signal Telegram channel suggests that Belarus plans to conduct military exercises next year, during which a Russian military contingent will be transferred to the country's territory.
"Carefully hidden signs of preparations"
The Belarusian Railways revealed "indirect, carefully hidden signs of preparations to carry out military transports between Russia and Belarus"—reported the Ukrainian independent news agency, UNIAN. "As part of these transports, it is planned to move the Russian military contingent and equipment by rail to the territory of Belarus, as well as in the opposite direction,"—wrote the report cited by UNIAN.
Unexpected inspection. "Propaganda"
Belarusian military authorities announced in the first week of May an unexpected inspection of tactical nuclear weapon delivery systems, including Iskander launchers and Su-25 aircraft. These systems are adapted to carry Russian tactical nuclear weapons.
Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin stated, "an unexpected inspection of non-strategic nuclear weapon delivery systems is being conducted in accordance with Alexander Lukashenko's decree." Meanwhile, the head of the Belarusian Security Council, Alexander Wolfovich, informed the media that the inspection was related to Russian exercises, which the Kremlin announced in response to statements by Western representatives. The exercises were to involve the use of nuclear weapons of a non-strategic nature. Moscow did not provide the date for the maneuvers.
"It has a propaganda dimension because Minsk has no control over Russian nuclear weapons on its territory,"—assessed Kamil Kłysiński, an expert from the Center for Eastern Studies, in an interview with PAP.
