Belarus Pres. Raises Troop Readiness As Kyiv Focuses On Southern Front

Ukraine's Euromaidan Press reporting that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered the readiness of one of the army's southern troop unit to be raised as well as engaging in snap combat readiness drills. There will be some concern in Kyiv, with reports that additional materiel will be sent to bases close to the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.

• News seemingly corroborated by Guy Elster at Walla: "Belarus Defense Minister announces on a sudden combat readiness inspection". "Head of Belarus security council says level of readiness of one of the southern military units has been raised"
• In Russia's ill-fated attempt to take the Ukrainian capital in the first days of the war, the main drive to Kyiv was launched from Belarusian territory. As such, an increase in military equipment in southern Belarus is likely to ensure that Kyiv cannot commit even greater numbers of troops to its attempt to retake territory in the south and east of the country, as they are kept in reserve to defend the capital from any attack from the north.
• Nevertheless, the onset of winter and the degradation to Russian forces in recent months limits (but does not eliminate) the prospect of an attack from Belarusian forces in the north. It remains unlikely that Belarus would launch actions without substantial Russian military support.