RT reported that the Belarusese Ministry of Defense suddenly announced a combat readiness check of the armed forces. The telegram announcement of the Belarus Defense Ministry on December 13 said that President Alexander Lukashenko had ordered an exercise.
Belarus is one of Russia's closest allies, sharing borders with Ukraine, as well as with NATO member states of Poland, Latvia and Lithuania.
The announcement noted that the exercise will be relatively complicated, with armed forces having to move into designated areas in the shortest possible time. The soldiers will have to set up combat positions there, organize security and defense, and build crossing points on the Neman and Berezina rivers.
The military has also warned that traffic will be temporarily suspended in some areas due to the movement of equipment and soldiers along the roads.
In another post, the Belarus Defense Ministry released some photos of one of the units participating in the exercise.
Earlier this month, President Lukashenko said that the Belarus and Russian forces were preparing like a single force, a single army.
The Belarusian president affirmed that neither Minsk nor Moscow want war but are working together to push back all aggression.
The two countries previously announced the establishment of a joint force in Belarus in October, citing NATO's increased military activity at the country's border. At the time, President Lukashenko explained that although the entire force would be large, "more than 1,000 Russian soldiers" would also participate.
Minsk also accused neighboring Ukraine of "planning to conduct an attack" on Belarus - something Kiev strongly denied. In contrast, officials in Kiev have repeatedly accused Moscow of trying to lure its Belarus ally into the war in Ukraine.
Speaking at a government meeting earlier this month, Lukashenko assessed the situation at the country's borders as tense.
However, he noted that there has been an opportunity to prevent a potential enemy from using military forces against Belarus. He also called for vigilance because "it is important not to miss any signs of preparation for an invasion of Belarus".
The President of Belarus said that Provocations are increasing and Ukraine is trying to "lure NATO member states" into conflict with Russia.
