KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has intensified his warning to Belarus, accusing the country of facilitating Russian drone attacks by allowing communications relay equipment to operate on its territory.
According to Ukrainian officials, the relay stations located near the Belarus-Ukraine border have allegedly been used to help guide Russian drones targeting Ukrainian territory. Zelenskyy demanded that Belarus dismantle the equipment within a week, warning that Ukraine could take action if the systems remained operational.
The tougher stance marks a significant shift in Kyiv’s approach toward Belarus, which has long been a close ally of Russia. While Belarus has not officially deployed troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, it has allowed Russia to use its territory, military infrastructure, and logistical support since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has denied that his country intends to enter the war directly and maintains that Belarus poses no threat to Ukraine. The Kremlin has criticized Zelenskyy’s warning, describing it as interference in Belarus’s sovereignty and an escalation of regional tensions.
In a subsequent update, Zelenskyy said the relay equipment had stopped operating following Ukraine’s warning, although it remains unclear whether the systems were dismantled or simply switched off. Ukrainian border officials also reported a decline in drone activity from the Belarusian direction.
The latest developments underscore growing tensions between Ukraine and Belarus as the conflict with Russia continues, with regional security remaining a major concern for neighboring countries.
