Ukrainian authorities are strengthening defenses in the north, in the context of a possible attack from Belarus.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that the country is strengthening military positions along the Chernigiv-Kiev axis, at the border with Belarus, due to information about Russia's offensive plans in that area.

Zelensky emphasized that Belarus will face significant consequences if it gets drawn into the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. Following a meeting with military commanders, he ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare additional diplomatic measures against Belarus. Zelensky mentioned that Russia could mobilize about 100,000 soldiers and warned that there is currently no possibility of a masked mobilization in Russia.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that simplifies obtaining Russian citizenship for residents of Transnistria, which was interpreted by Maia Sandu, the President of the Republic of Moldova, as a possible mobilization tool for the Russian invasion in Ukraine. This complicated situation underscores the ongoing tensions in the region and the persistent threats to Ukraine.