By Trendsetter Tribune 
Belarus is escalating its military preparedness with a new, multi-stage combat readiness inspection that explicitly draws on lessons from Russia’s war in Ukraine. The move signals Minsk’s continued military alignment with Moscow and raises fresh questions about regional stability as Belarus increases troop readiness, modern warfare training, and presidential involvement in military exercises.
Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has played a critical logistical and strategic role in Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, even while officially denying direct combat involvement. Since 2022, Belarusian territory has been used for troop deployments, missile launches, and joint military exercises with Russian forces.
President Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly emphasized the need to modernize Belarus’s armed forces and prepare for what his government describes as growing external threats. Recent military drills and inspections reflect a broader effort to integrate Russian battlefield experience into Belarusian defense planning.
What was announced
Security Council Secretary Aliaksandr Valfovich announced that Belarus will conduct a comprehensive combat readiness inspection across its armed forces. According to Valfovich, the review will be carried out in multiple stages and involve a wide range of military activities.
He said the inspection will rely heavily on experience gained during Russia’s so-called “special military operation,” the Kremlin’s term for its full-scale war against Ukraine. Those tactics, Valfovich said, will be adapted specifically for Belarusian forces.
State-approved plans for the inspection have already been authorized by President Lukashenko, who is expected to personally participate in overseeing the process.
Scope of the military exercises
According to reporting cited by Radio Liberty, the exercises will evaluate how effectively Belarusian troops can defend military facilities and respond to modern battlefield threats. These include the use of drones and other technologies that have played a central role in the war in Ukraine.
The first units scheduled for inspection will come from Belarus’s logistical support forces, one of the largest and most critical branches of the country’s military. These units operate a broad inventory of armored vehicles, transport equipment, and weapons systems essential for sustaining combat operations.
By beginning with logistical forces, the inspection places emphasis on supply chains, mobility, and infrastructure protection—areas that have proven decisive in modern conflicts.
Lukashenko’s direct involvement
Valfovich emphasized that President Lukashenko not only approved the inspection plan but will also personally take part in the review process. His involvement underscores the political importance Minsk is placing on military preparedness and command oversight.
The announcement follows earlier directives issued by Lukashenko to elevate the military’s readiness level.
On October 11, Lukashenko ordered a nationwide combat readiness check and raised the armed forces to their highest alert level. Since then, Belarusian military units have been carrying out coordinated actions, deploying to designated locations, and operating under direct supervision of the Security Council.
Analysis: Signals to allies and adversaries
Belarus’s decision to explicitly incorporate lessons from Russia’s war in Ukraine marks a notable shift in how openly Minsk frames its military planning. While Belarus has long coordinated closely with Moscow, referencing battlefield experience from an ongoing war adds a sharper edge to the message.
The focus on drone warfare, base defense, and logistics reflects the realities of modern conflict, where technology, supply resilience, and rapid deployment often determine outcomes more than sheer troop numbers.
Lukashenko’s personal participation may also serve a domestic purpose, reinforcing his image as a hands-on commander amid internal and external pressure.
Implications for regional security
While Belarus has not announced plans to enter active combat, repeated readiness checks and high-alert drills increase tensions along NATO’s eastern flank and Ukraine’s northern border. Neighboring countries are likely to view the inspections as part of a broader pattern of militarization tied to Russia’s war strategy.
At the same time, Minsk’s emphasis on preparedness could be intended as deterrence rather than a signal of imminent escalation.
Conclusion
Belarus’s new combat readiness inspection represents a significant step in aligning its military posture with lessons drawn from Russia’s war in Ukraine. With multi-stage drills, a focus on modern warfare tools, and direct presidential oversight, the exercises highlight Minsk’s determination to maintain a high state of military preparedness amid an increasingly volatile regional environment.
As the inspection unfolds, its scale and outcomes will be closely watched by both allies and neighboring states for signs of Belarus’s next strategic move.