National Resistance Center: Russia recruits Belarusian youth to its military universities

Russian military representatives organize open days in Belarusian district centers, inviting citizens to join Russian military academies and become officers, the National Resistance Center reported on Jan. 27.

The Kyiv Independent can't immediately verify this claim.

Due to substantial losses in the war against Ukraine, Russian occupation forces face a significant shortage of junior officers.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion began, over 3,000 officers, with 349 holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or higher have been killed in combat in Ukraine, according to Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, and BBC Russia which carry out a name-by-name count of the dead.

In an effort to address the shortages, Russia is recruiting citizens of other countries, particularly Belarusians, according to the Center.

Belarusian Foreign Minister said in an interview with the Associated Press in September that he cannot foresee Belarus joining the war in Ukraine alongside Russian forces. Sergei Aleinik also expressed skepticism about Russia instructing Belarus to utilize the tactical nuclear weapons recently deployed in the country.

Ukrainian officials meet relatives of POWs who Russia claims were in crashed Il-76, say no evidence to confirm that

Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on Jan. 26 that during the planned exchange of POWs two days earlier Moscow was to return to Ukraine 65 people from one of the lists Russian propagandists shared after the crash of Il-76 transport plane in Russia’s Belgor…

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova