Belarus conducts mass mobilization under cover of combat readiness inspection

The regime of self-proclaimed president Alexander Lukashenko has initiated a mass call-up of reserve officers and reservists, carried out within tight deadlines and marked by numerous violations, Pavel Latushko, deputy head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, told KYIV24.

He said that under the guise of a «snap inspection», the country is in effect conducting a hidden mobilization. During the process, he added, social or medical grounds for deferment are being ignored.

«Summonses, for example, are delivered at 8 a.m., requiring arrival at the place of service by 9 a.m. Or a notice arrives at 10 p.m., ordering someone to report for duty at 8 a.m. the next morning to a completely different city in Belarus. There is indeed a mass call-up under way. No refusals are accepted; everyone is being put under arms for a month or two. Mobile phones are also taken away, leaving the people without contact with relatives, ” he said.

Latushko also pointed to what he described as a stark discrepancy between official reports from the Ministry of Defense of Belarus and the situation on the ground. While Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin reports to Lukashenko about «songs and dances» with which reservists allegedly head to service, independent media and social networks, he said, are recording a wave of public outrage.

«A young man who has just left hospital, with a wife who has hearing problems and a sick child, is being drafted. They simply say they do not care what you think. In previous years, military offices were ready to discuss family or work issues, but now that is impossible, ” he said.

Latushko added that at least 400 reserve officers have been called up so far. The exact number of mobilised rank-and-file reservists remains unknown due to the closed nature of the inspection. Those drafted are being sent to training for up to two months without the right to refuse.