Russia has long regarded Belarus as a convenient reserve for topping up its manpower in the war against Ukraine, especially after suffering heavy losses at the front.
Minsk’s economic dependence, the political vulnerability of Aliaksandr Lukashenka's regime and the legal uncertainty around the Union State create conditions in which the Kremlin can act with considerable freedom.
In the Belarusian corner of the internet, in recent months a large number of adverts offering Belarusians the chance to sign a contract with the Russian army, have appeared. They are circulated everywhere – in Telegram channels, in Viber chats and in local community pages where people discuss everyday issues.
At times it looks almost surreal: nestled between posts about selling vegetables or finding a tutor, a sudden offer appears promising a "high salary, benefits and Russian citizenship" in return for going to war.
Investigations by DW, TVNET, CityDog and Current Time have documented a sharp increase in such posts. The human rights initiative Belpol regularly highlights examples of adverts in which recruiters use Belarusian phone numbers to inspire trust.