Belarus Calls Up Reservists Amid Surge in Military Activity Near Ukraine

In Belarus, a surge in military activity is raising concerns, with mass convocations of reservists and intensified drills near the Ukrainian border. These actions come as part of routine readiness checks, according to military experts, but are still closely watched by neighboring countries, including NATO members, Suspilne reported on February 19.

Since mid-February 2026, Belarusian authorities have called up reserves for sudden military exercises, causing alarm among local communities. The draft has notably impacted fathers of multiple children, with reports on social media of individuals being swiftly summoned for training, including some who had not even previously served in the armed forces.

The drills, occurring in regions close to the Ukrainian border, are described as part of standard military procedures to assess readiness, logistics, and the ability to mobilize in stressful situations. However, the proximity to Ukraine, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the military alliance between Belarus and Russia have raised questions about potential ulterior motives behind these exercises, Suspilne wrote.

Belarus has played a crucial role in supporting Russia’s. full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, allowing Russian forces to use its territory as a launch point for attacks, particularly in the early stages of the war. While Belarusian troops have not directly participated in combat, Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko has provided significant logistical and diplomatic support, including facilitating Russian missile strikes from Belarus.

This close alignment with Russia has led to international condemnation and increased isolation from the West, with Belarus being seen as a key enabler of Russia’s military efforts against Ukraine.

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Lately, Belarus has been increasing its military cooperation with Russia, prompting concerns about possible preparations for further aggression. Former NATO Colonel Vaidotas Malinionis noted that, while these drills are routine, the scale and timing of the activities warrant caution.

He emphasized that Belarus’s connection with Russia’s military plans cannot be disregarded, and that the exercises may serve multiple purposes, including signaling or psychological pressure on NATO members.

With Belarus still closely aligned with Moscow, Lithuania is also closely monitoring the developments but remains assured by NATO's strong presence and intelligence-sharing, which diminishes the likelihood of a sudden surprise. However, the uncertainty surrounding the situation, combined with the unpredictable use of hybrid tactics, requires ongoing vigilance and coordination among NATO partners.

The investigative team at Suspilne asked a source from the team of Belarusian opposition leader Tikhanovskaya, who requested anonymity, to comment on the situation with calling up of reservists in Belarus.

“Such exercises have always been conducted, but on a slightly smaller scale,” they said. “There is nothing unusual about the format of the exercises. When I was serving, and when my friends served after me, my son, they were often called up and given tasks in this way.”

Earlier satellite imagery had indicated that Belarus is actively developing a new military site potentially intended for the deployment of Russia’s Oreshnik missile system.

The images, captured by Planet Labs, show six vehicles whose size and proportions are consistent with known support equipment for the Oreshnik system. However, analysts caution that the image resolution is insufficient to confirm the equipment type with certainty.

In addition to the suspected Oreshnik-associated vehicles, the site features approximately 25 other military vehicles of various types, newly constructed earthen revetments, a building of unknown purpose, and ongoing construction of hangars for equipment storage.

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