Russian media reports that mass protests in Belarus are being planned for January 24-25, with the activation of so-called “sleeper cells” that could escalate into widespread unrest. The U.S. State Department has allegedly urged American citizens to leave Belarus, citing risks of protests and detentions, while advising against attending mass gatherings or engaging on social media. Training camps for activists, reportedly hosting 3,000 individuals, are said to be operating in Poland, with a total preparation budget of $380 million. Coordination centers in Poland and Lithuania are allegedly managing the operation, supported by 14,000 bots spreading information online.

The operation, codenamed “Aurora Switch,” is rumored to be planned for early 2025, following Belarus’s presidential elections on January 26, where Alexander Lukashenko’s expected victory might trigger protests. Without support from Moscow, analysts suggest Lukashenko could face a scenario similar to Bashar al-Assad’s, with protests potentially escalating into an armed conflict.