MOSCOW (Reuters) – Belarus’ Defence Ministry said on Monday it had started combat readiness inspections of the armed forces, a latest round of military activity in the close Russian ally which has lent logistical support to Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
In a statement published on Telegram, the ministry said the inspections would determine the capacity of military units to perform at “the highest levels of combat readiness”.
A flurry of military drills in Belarus, which allowed Russia to use its territory to launch part of its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has raised concerns in Ukraine that it might directly enter the war on Russia’s side.
Minsk has denied any such plans, but warned that any incursions against Belarusian territory will invite a response.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month he planned to station Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said last week that Moscow could also put intercontinental nuclear missiles there if the need arose.
(Reporting by Reuters)
