The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, at the meeting of the National Security Council, ordered the formation of a voluntary territorial defense.

 – The situation is not easy at the moment and the times are such that it would be appropriate for every person to be able to handle a weapon – Lukashenko said at the meeting of the Security Council, explaining the order to establish a voluntary territorial defense.

Defense Minister Viktor Hrenin added that the territorial voluntary defense should number between 100,000 and 150,000 volunteers, and if necessary, more. There are currently about 50,000 professional soldiers in Belarus.