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Lukashenko orders expansion of volunteer defense units in Belarus

16 October 2026 13:50 (UTC +04:00)

Belarus plans to expand the network of people’s volunteer defense units, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said during a visit to the training process of one of the volunteer defense units in the Vitebsk region, BelTA said, APA reports.

According to Lukashenko, the current number of units is insufficient and new base units should be created. They should be located in certain villages within the territories of village councils and operate in coordination with one another.

“You have one unit, and it is a good unit. But this is not enough. We need to expand. Similar base units should be created in other places as well. They should be interconnected,” Lukashenko said.

The Belarusian leader recalled that he had earlier instructed Igor Shunevich, head of the Belarusian Society of Hunters and Fishermen, to involve people who know how to handle weapons in the people’s volunteer defense units.

According to Lukashenko, the purpose of creating people’s volunteer defense units is to enable people to defend themselves, their families and the settlements where they live in the event of war.