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Belarus may be forced by Vladimir Putin to join the war in Ukraine after the country’s military vehicles were seen daubed with a red square.

The markings – which are used to distinguish friend from foe – have been spotted on Belarus’s army vehicles for the first time whilst they take part in combat drills.

Until now leader Alexander Lukashenko has resisted pressure from the Russian president to send his troops into battle, but the new markings may indicate more active involvement from the country’s forces.

But the Belarusian dictator is entirely dependent on Vladimir Putin to keep his struggling economy afloat.

If Mr Lukashenko’s forces do enter into combat, Ukrainian forces could face new tactical problems as a new front will be opened in the north of the country.

Ukrainian official Oleksii Arestovych warned: ‘Belarus is now a distraction for us.

‘There is an active information operation and the movement of a minimum number of troops near the northern borders of Ukraine.’

Belarusian officials have confirmed they are staging a ‘training plan’ to ‘maintain combat readiness and mobilisation’ of its forces.

The country’s defence minister Viktor Gulevich said ‘these measures will be comprehensive’ and ‘troops will advance to previously designated areas as soon as possible and reinforce their equipment while organising defence and security issues’.

Mr Gulevich added: ‘Naturally, our southern border, the border with Ukraine, causes the biggest concern.’

He also accused Ukraine of planning an attack on Belarus, saying: ‘They cannot accuse us of anything, where as their is enough evidence of the violation of the Belarus border and aggressive actions against it.’

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