Belarus has reportedly begun establishing temporary checkpoints along its land borders with Russia, according to independent news outlet Zerkalo, which cites official sources.

The construction of these checkpoints began on Thursday evening, with guards setting up barriers, barricade tape, and spikes on the M1 highway, a crucial route that connects Moscow to Belarus through Smolensk.

Journalists from Zerkalo contacted the Belarus State Border Committee’s hotline, where they learned that passport checks had been implemented at several border crossings, but only for travelers coming from Russia into Belarus. The border authorities stated that these checkpoints are temporary but did not specify when they would be removed, only mentioning that they would be in place “until further notice.”

The reasoning behind the sudden establishment of checkpoints remains unclear, as Minsk has not made any official announcement on the matter. This development occurs amid a series of drone attacks in Russia, as well as an expected Ukrainian military counteroffensive, which has led Russian officials to cancel Victory Day parades across the country and strengthen security measures.

The sudden appearance of checkpoints has led to traffic congestion, with vehicles backed up for 4 miles. Since 1995, Belarus and Russia have had virtually no border control between them, as both countries allow their citizens to cross the 745 mile border without passports, as part of a broader effort to strengthen ties between the two nations.