Lukashenko: Belarus can expand its army to 500,000 in wartime

MINSK, 1 April (BelTA) – Belarus could increase the size of its armed forces to half a million in the event of war, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting to summarize the results of the comprehensive inspection of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus on 1 April, BelTA has learned.

“We currently have 70,000 under arms. In total, close to 100,000. [Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Commander of the Internal Troops Nikolai] Karpenkov and [Internal Affairs Minister] Kubrakov also have their forces [internal troops within the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs]. There are smaller units in the State Security Committee. And others. That makes 100,000. Half a million if additional mobilization is called up in the event of war,” the president said.