Belarus fears Ukrainian attack and forms volunteer army

Although the situation between Russia and Belarus is tense, Alexander Lukashenko, Belarusian head of state, continues to work with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lukashenko is now planning to set up a volunteer army because he fears an attack from Ukraine.

Military cooperation between Belarus and Russia is particularly strong. According to the Tagesschau, more than 150 joint military exercises are already planned for this year.

The reason for Lukashenko's plans to set up a volunteer army is his fear that Belarus could be attacked by Ukrainian troops.

Therefore, in addition to the military troops of Belarus, a volunteer army is now to be set up.

This is to be formed from 100,000 to 150,000 volunteers. Such a paramilitary formation should be set up in every village and town, as the Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin states according to the Daily News.

The Belarusian professional army includes around 48,000 soldiers and 12,000 state troops protecting the borders, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

The planned volunteer army is expected to be about twice as large as the professional army.

Lukashenko has already issued an order for a new voluntary territorial defense of his armed forces to set up the volunteer army, according to the Tagesschau.

According to the Belarusian president, the "experiences in Ukraine" have shown that additional defense of his country is necessary.

Lukashenko had previously opened up the possibility for Russia to attack Ukraine from Belarusian territory.

Russian soldiers have been stationed in Belarus for a long time.

The number of Russian soldiers in Belarus is to be further increased in the future.

Now, according to the BBC's Steve Rosenberg, Lukashenko has indicated that Belarus will support Russia in the war against Ukraine - but only if the country itself is attacked by Ukraine.

Lukashenko said to Rosenberg: "I am also ready to wage war on the side of the Russians from the territory of Belarus, but only if someone - even a single soldier - from there (Ukraine) invades our territory enters with arms to kill my people."

Experts rate the possibility of a Russian attack on Ukraine from Belarus as unlikely, according to Merkur - but they cannot be ruled out.

A Ukrainian soldier told the Kyiv Post that he believed such a frontal attack would only be possible with an army of 150,000 soldiers, as Merkur reported in early January this year.

At the beginning of the year, however, only 20,000 Russian soldiers were in Belarus. But if Lukashenko's army and his new volunteer army work together with Russia, the necessary number of soldiers for a frontal attack on Ukraine from Belarus could be reached.