Ukrainian-Belarusian border: The specter of the third front

Compared to the fronts in the east and south, northwestern Ukraine on the border with Belarus is quiet. But an invasion from Belarus looms over the region like a specter. Soldiers train for emergencies.

In formations of three, two groups of soldiers move forward in small steps over sandy terrain and let out volleys of rifles. They rotate every few meters and the next shooter fires at the surrounding sand dunes or at targets 100 meters away.

A rifle battalion of the Territorial Defense – a unit of reservists and volunteers – is training in a pine forest in the Volhynia region of north-western Ukraine. Mykola has a downright quiet shift this morning. He’s sitting at a table handing out magazines for the rifles:

An anti-tank mine then detonates and shakes the area. Mykola leaves this almost cold. The real danger is here. A few kilometers to the north, Ukraine borders Belarus – a country that is providing logistical support to Russia during its invasion.

Speculation about new offensive

There has also been speculation for months about a renewed offensive from Belarus, this time also in this region. If they should come, Mykola says: “The mood here is great. Nobody is afraid, everyone is ready. I’ve been here since February 24, 6 a.m. – like everyone else voluntarily.”

Olga seems less casual. With a serious expression, the military doctor explains what is also important in the exercises: “We go through emergency situations. Even life-threatening injuries that you can treat yourself. For example, by tying off bleeding.”

So far not a single gunshot has been fired in Volhynia. Many here have relatives in Belarus, some of whom they are still in contact with. Like Anatoly, a man with 25 years of military experience, father and grandfather: “Up until the invasion, we had good relations with Belarus, we visited each other. My sister-in-law lives there. She still calls often and asks how we are doing. “

But kinship no longer plays a role, emphasizes Commander Vlad. You have to prepare for an emergency, the tension is growing:

Lots of swamps and forests

Vadim strides briskly through a winding labyrinth that is 1.5 meters deep. The fact that the trenches in the Ukrainian-Belarusian border region were recently dug is indicated by the fresh scent and light color of the wood used to fasten them. It looks as if the battalion is settling in here for a long time.

Vadim is a reserve officer, he fought in Donbass after 2014. He has held positions in north-western Ukraine since the invasion and sees his side as an advantage: “From a military point of view, an offensive from Belarus makes no sense. Everything is in our favour, even nature is on our side. We also have a few surprises in store.”

There are many swamps and forests in the border region. In addition, in the mild winter so far, the ground has hardly frozen, which would hamper the movement of heavy equipment. In addition, the area was extensively mined, it is said.

But even if there hasn’t been any fighting here in eleven months of war, the tension is maintained, explains Vadim: “Just because nothing seems to be happening doesn’t mean that I can sit back and relax. When I was fighting in the East, the silence overwhelmed me scared. We have to be ready to fight here at all times because we don’t know exactly what our opponent is planning.”

Praise for German military technology

The permanent exercises make sense even without active fighting in the north-west, the officer adds. Because again and again fighters would be assigned to the fronts in the east and south. The exercises prepare them mentally.

Regarding the equipment, Vadim is almost diplomatic. He does not go directly into the discussion about “Leopard 2” tanks. But he emphatically praises German military technology: “We need new tanks. The Soviet T-72 models have only proven themselves to a limited extent. It’s a similar story with artillery. The Panzerhaubitze 2000 from Germany is very powerful and is much less likely to be destroyed in battle. Feel with it our soldiers feel more secure in their fighting positions.”

Training as a protective measure

After two hours, the target practice comes to an end in the midst of the sand dunes in the pine forest. Anatoly, the father and grandfather, seems determined but thoughtful: “We all wish that the war will end as soon as possible. That we can return to our families. I think the Belarusians don’t want to fight us. But they could pressured by Russia.”

Even military doctor Olga does not believe that the guns in Ukraine will be silenced any time soon. Will your home region of Volhynia also become the scene?