Martial law readiness heightens tensions in Belarus-Ukraine region

Deputy Chief of the Belarusian Ministry of Emergency Situations, Aleksander Chudoleyev, told the BelTA agency that "the Gomel region, bordering Ukraine, is ready to implement martial law if necessary." The Ukrainian Center for Counteracting Disinformation warned that such reports might be part of an information warfare strategy.

Many of the reports provided by Russian and Belarusian state media and officials are likely false. Such reports may be part of the Russian Federation's information warfare.

The statement from Minsk coincided with a message from the Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, who conveyed that the Ukrainian capital is "currently funding the construction of protective facilities in the region." Klitschko added, "The capital was and remains a target for Putin, but the current readiness is much better than two years ago."

Meanwhile, the Gomel region in Belarus, bordering the Kyiv region, is ready to introduce "martial law if necessary." Chudoleyev stated, "We have checked the readiness of special units and the level of their personnel. Overall, the system in the region is prepared, if needed."

Earlier, the Ukrainian Center for Counteracting Disinformation warned that Russia might initiate a special operation involving the spread of fake news about the opening of a second front from Belarus.

"Shortly, we expect a series of provocative statements from the highest leadership of the Russian Federation and Belarus, containing threats against Ukraine, as well as a deluge of disinformation in Russian mass media and social networks about alleged preparations for an offensive," the Center for Counteracting Disinformation said in a statement.