On August 10, 2024, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus issued a statement “regarding the need to strengthen the troop grouping in the Gomel and Mozyr tactical directions to respond to any possible provocations.” To this end, Lukashenka issued corresponding orders. The presumed intent is to exert pressure on the Armed Forces of Ukraine in connection with their activities in the Kursk region of Russia.
Units of several mechanized battalions (presumably from the 120th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus) were put on alert to perform their assigned tasks.
The march to the designated areas was planned to be carried out by combined means, including the use of railway transport.
Thus, on August 11, 2024, at approximately 23:00 local time, a troop train (VESH) No. 962 consisting of 37 railcars was dispatched from Borisov station (Minsk Division of the Belarusian Railway – NOD-1) to Novobelitskaya station (Gomel Division of the Belarusian Railway – NOD-4), including:
- 3 passenger cars (with personnel of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus);
- 3 boxcars (with equipment and ammunition);
- 31 flatcars (with military equipment).
The route of troop train No. 962: Borisov → Minsk → Osipovichi → Zhlobin → Gomel → Novobelitskaya.
The estimated arrival time of troop train No. 962 at the final station of the route, Novobelitskaya, on August 12, 2024, was 08:25.
Upon arrival of the troop train, the train was remarshalled. As a result, 28 railcars were left at Novobelitskaya station for unloading. A group of nine railcars from this train consist, including those loaded with tracked vehicles (T-72B tanks), was sent to Kozenki station (Gomel Division of the Belarusian Railway – NOD-4) for subsequent unloading.
The group of railcars (detachment from troop train No. 962) sent to Kozenki station included:
- 1 passenger car;
- 8 flatcars (cargo – tracked military equipment – tanks).
As of 12:00 local time on August 13, 2024, no other movements, apart from the specified troop train, have been observed.
Furthermore, there are no signs of operational orders for military transport via Belarusian Railway in the near future from the Military Transportation Directorate of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. The operation of Belarusian Railway is currently proceeding as usual.
Thus, this movement of an insignificant volume of military equipment and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus does not correspond to the authorities' declared significant strengthening of the troop grouping in the Gomel and Mozyr directions.
The described “maneuver” is essentially more consistent with a disinformation or information-psychological special operation (IPSO) by the current regime in Belarus.
We cannot help but voice the analogies that come to mind – it strongly resembles the participation in the war of well-known units of a well-known Caucasian “ruler,” whose “exploits” are covered through one of the most famous video platforms.
