Belarus Moves Troops Near Strategic NATO Gap for Military Exercises

Belarus has moved troops and military equipment to its borders with Poland and Lithuania for four-day command-staff exercises, with part of the maneuvers occurring right near the Suwalki Gap—a strategically vital section of the Polish-Lithuanian border for NATO, as reported by The Moscow Times.

The Ministry of Defense of Belarus reported that the exercises, led by Chief of the General Staff Pavel Muraveyko from September 15 to 18 under the Western Operational Command, involve mechanized and tank battalions practicing border coverage and martial law enforcement.

Participating units are also practicing fighting illegal armed formations and saboteurs, as well as repelling attacks by light aircraft and drones.

The Suwalki Gap is a 104-kilometer stretch along the Polish-Lithuanian border that connects the Baltic nations to the rest of NATO while separating Belarus from Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave.

Muraveyko stated, "We are not considering any offensive actions," calling discussions regarding preparations by the Belarusian army to attack neighboring countries "completely groundless."

The ministry added that troop numbers and military hardware remain below the limits of the 2011 Vienna Document that mandate notification to other nations, according to The Moscow Times.

In February 2022, Belarusian authorities permitted Russian forces to use the country's territory and infrastructure for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, though the Belarusian military has not participated directly in combat actions on Ukrainian soil.

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War in Ukraine

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In June 2026, Belarus conducted mobilization-related exercises in the Grodno region, where military enlistment offices verified the data of conscripts and reservists.

Starting June 20, the military enlistment office of the Oshmyany district summoned military-liable citizens to preliminary assembly points to clarify and update their personal records, with the procedure expected to cover around 2,000 residents.

The exercises, originally announced on June 17, tested procedures for mobilizing citizens and transport resources, taking place as Russia stepped up pressure on Alexander Lukashenko to permit broader use of Belarusian territory for military operations against Ukraine and potential hybrid activities against NATO member states.

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