Official statements say the drills will run from June 20 to June 26. Meanwhile, in the border city of Grodno, reservists are being summoned to verify and update their personal information, News.Az reports, citing UAWire.
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This data check comes as speculation swirls that Vladimir Putin is pulling Alexander Lukashenko into the war with Ukraine.
Authorities in the Grodno region are calling up reservists en masse starting June 20 to update records at collection points. “Military registration officers are updating data and, if necessary, making adjustments to reservists’ records. The process is being carried out in stages and will wrap up by July 2,” the Ministry of Defense said, explaining the situation in Belarus.
This is the second such mobilization event this year. The first took place back in February and caused considerable panic among locals.
The latest maneuvers are taking place as reports circulate that Russia is pressuring Belarus to open a new front in the war with Ukraine, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal.
According to the outlet, Moscow launched a campaign to pressure Minsk in early 2026, aiming to use Belarus as a launchpad to expand the war or carry out operations against nearby NATO member states.
Former and current Russian and European officials told the Journal that Russia’s demands include:
– using Belarusian territory to launch drone strikes on Ukraine,
– pushing the frontline further west,
– drawing Ukrainian forces away from more critical areas in the east.
Putin’s main point of leverage, observers say, is the financial dependence of the Lukashenko regime on Russia. Nevertheless, the Kremlin has publicly said that Belarus isn’t directly participating in Russian military operations. A former Russian intelligence official familiar with talks between Moscow and Minsk confirmed that Russia is pressuring Belarus and threatening to cut off financial support critical to Lukashenko’s hold on power. Most of the discussions reportedly took place between Lukashenko and Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov.
