Belarus said it has more than 1.5 million potential soldiers available, outside of its usual armed forces. Reuters reports it on the basis of statements by a senior Belarusian military man.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is considered an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war with Ukraine. For example, Russian troops are allowed to use Belarusian territory to attack Ukraine and Russian troops are trained there.
Volunteer Defense Force
Earlier this month, Lukashenko ordered the creation of a new volunteer defense force numbering around 150,000. That group of volunteers would only go into action “if Belarus is attacked,” Lukashenko said.
In total, therefore, a force of about one and a half million Belarusians, who are not in the army, could be called. They can be mobilized in the event of a state of siege or war, said Secretary of State for Security Affairs Alexander Volfovich. In total, around 9.3 million people live in Belarus, and the military includes around 48,000 professional soldiers and 12,000 frontier units.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
