MINSK, Belarus: Belarus bolstered its military presence along the border with Ukraine following reports of Ukrainian drones violating its airspace.
The incident, which occurred in the Mogilev region near the border with Russia, involved the destruction of several drones by Belarusian air defence forces.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, criticized the drone incursions and suggested that further provocations would lead to severe repercussions.
Lukashenko’s comments were made during a meeting in eastern Belarus, where he described the drones as part of a larger pattern of Ukrainian provocations. Belarusian state media released footage of what they claimed were remnants of the downed drones.
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine’s charge d’affaires to demand assurances that such incidents would not recur, warning that repeated violations could lead to a reassessment of Ukraine’s diplomatic presence in Minsk.
The Russian Defence Ministry also reported intercepting six drones in the Yaroslavl region on the same day. In response to the heightened tension, Belarus has ordered reinforcements to key tactical areas, including the deployment of special operations forces and advanced rocket systems.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting. Ukrainian officials, including Andriy Kovalenko of the Centre for Countering Disinformation, suggested that Belarus’s actions may be aimed at diverting attention from the conflict in Ukraine and assisting Russian military interests.
This escalation underscores the increasing regional tensions and the complexities of the ongoing conflict involving Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia.
