>Lukashenko this month ordered the formation of a new volunteer territorial defence force of up to 150,000 people. He has said his army would fight only if Belarus was attacked.

I'd start running if I was a Belarussian conscript. Where have we heard similar promises before?

• March 31, 2022 Russia drafts 134,500 conscripts but says they won't go to Ukraine

• Oct 28, 2022 Russia says 82,000 conscripts from emergency draft already in Ukraine

• Nov 20, 2022 Angry families say Russian conscripts thrown to front line unprepared

Conscripts are cannon fodder. They won't draft conscripts unless they plan to use them.