Belarus Accuses West of Plotting Multi-Front Attack on Its Territory

Belarusian state media has reported allegations of a Western-backed plan to attack four regions in the southwest of the country.

According to the reports, nationalist armed groups from Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine are training to infiltrate Belarus, with NATO forces expected to provide subsequent support.

The allegations, broadcasted on Belarusian television, claim that Polish intelligence agencies are involved in training these groups. The training allegedly includes Belarusian opposition members and other individuals considered extremists by Minsk, with camps located in several Polish cities, including Warsaw, Krakow, and Gdansk.

A Belarusian investigative program aired footage describing the purported plan, stating that these groups would first conduct attacks, followed by mercenaries and NATO forces under the pretext of defending democracy and freedom. The investigation described the use of hit-and-run tactics and compared them to those employed in Ukraine's border regions.

Belarusian officials also accused the opposition of collaborating with foreign actors, using tactics like the establishment of airsoft clubs as fronts for militant activity. The claims suggest that Poland was previously informed about the activities but chose to increase the secrecy of operations.

The accusations come as Belarus continues to play a role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, including initially permitting Russia to use its territory for military operations. Belarus remains a close ally of Russia, with shared security policies, including the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil.

The allegations of this coordinated attack have been denied by Western governments, and human rights groups have criticized Belarus for its internal crackdown on dissent. Recent reports indicate that Belarus detained over 1,600 individuals for anti-government activities, including expressions of solidarity with Ukraine.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned a number of political prisoners in recent months, a move interpreted by some as an attempt to engage in dialogue with the U.S. and the EU, both of which maintain sanctions on Belarus.

Meanwhile, on November 20, a meeting of defense ministers and ministry representatives from the 12 Northern Group countries (Poland, U.K., Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia) and invited guests was held in Copenhagen. Discussing Ukraine, Poland’s Minister of National Defense highlighted Poland's support, including training around 25,000 Ukrainian soldiers, and ongoing efforts to promote enlistment in the Ukrainian army by people in Poland and Europe, though applications remain low.