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There are no preparations for a draft in Belarus, the defense ministry in Minsk said on Tuesday, denying allegations made by the media in Kiev citing the Ukrainian military. Belarus has increased the police presence along the border with Ukraine, however, citing a possible threat of sabotage from its southern neighbor.
The publication of contracts for printing blank draft forms “was interpreted by laymen as connected with mobilization,” the defense ministry said in a statement. “This is not true.”
Such contracts are routine and their posting is mandated by transparency laws, the military said, adding, “There can be no other interpretations or insinuations in this regard.”
The reaction from Minsk comes after Kiev claimed on Monday that a mobilization in Belarus may be imminent. Ukraine has “obtained information that the military commissariat of Belarus’s Brest Oblast has issued a call for tenders to print 50,000 call-up notices before 31 December,” the Ukrainian General Staff said as part of their daily briefing posted on Facebook.